Portuguese, Armenians, English, Scots, Jews, Parsis, Greeks,
Japanese and Chinese had come to Kolkata from the eighteenth century to reap
their fortunes. A constellation of impressive religious edifices that is linked
to the City’s mercantile history was the result. Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Jain and
Buddhist communities from across the subcontinent also built places of worship
in the same city.
In this book, Kolkata’s unique spiritual
heritage is presented through splendid photographs of its diverse places of
worship that are symbols of Kolkata’s composite culture. The narrative, that
accompanies each place of worship featured, provides readers with insights into
the City’s history as well as introduces the customs and traditions of the
array of communities who made the city their home. The multi-religious ethos of
the city is especially important today when diversity is increasingly being
threatened by forces of homogeneity and globalization.