Katwa

2026-04-20T06:29:50Z

12.104.200.139:

{{Short description|City in West Bengal, India}}
{{About|the city in West Bengal, India|its namesake subdivision|Katwa subdivision|its namesake community development block|Katwa I |another namesake community development block|Katwa II}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Katwa
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Ajay River Katwa
| nickname =
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal#India3
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in West Bengal, India
| coordinates = {{coord|23.65|N|88.13|E|region:IN-WB|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[West Bengal]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Purba Bardhaman district|Purba Bardhaman]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = [[Municipal Corporations in India|Municipality]]
| governing_body = Katwa Municipality
| leader_title = Chairman
| leader_name = Samir Kumar Saha
| leader_title1 = Vice Chairman
| leader_name1 = Lakhindar Mandal
| leader_title2 = MP
| leader_name2 = Sunil Mondal
| leader_title3 = MLA
| leader_name3 = Rabindranath Chatterjee
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes = <ref name='Katwa Town'>{{cite web|title=Katwa City|url=https://katwamunicipality.info/administrator/}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 7.93
| area_metro_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 21
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Katwa Town" />
| population_total = 81615
| population_metro =
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[English language|English]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 713130
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = +91 3453
| registration_plate = WB 75
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Bardhaman Purba (Lok Sabha constituency)|Bardhaman Purba]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Katwa (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Katwa]]
| website = {{URL|purbabardhaman.gov.in/}}
| footnotes =
}}
[[File:Tomb of William Carrey Junior at Katwa 07.jpg|thumb|Tomb of William Carrey Junior at Katwa]]
'''Katwa''' is a sub-divisional town and railway junction in [[Purba Bardhaman district]] of the Indian [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]]. It is the headquarters of the [[Katwa subdivision]]. The town was built at the confluence of the Ganga and Ajay rivers. Katwa is a border city of three districts; [[Purba Bardhaman]] District, [[Nadia District]] and [[Murshidabad District]].

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=370| height=250| zoom=10
| coord={{coord|23|36|0|N|88|3|0|E}}| float=left|caption='''Cities and towns in the Katwa subdivision of Purba Bardhaman district''' M: municipal city/ town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical place/ religious and/ or cultural centre, C: craft centre. Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1= {{coord|23|36|22|N|88|10|47|E}} | label-pos1=right|label1= Dainhat | numbered1=M| mark-title1= [[Dainhat]] (M)|label-color1=#800000 |label-size1=13| mark-size1=13|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1=#800000|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2= {{coord|23|39|0|N|88|7|48|E}}| label-pos2=top|label2=Katwa| numbered2=M| mark-title2= Katwa (M)| shape-color2=black| label-size2=13|label-color2=black 
|mark-coord3={{coord|23|37|30|N|88|7|56|E}} | label-pos3=bottom|label3=Panuhat | numbered3=CT| mark-title3= [[Panuhat]] (CT)|shape-color3=#A40000
|mark-coord4={{coord|23|31|30|N|87|54|12|E}} | label-pos4=bottom|label4= Mongalkote| numbered4=R| mark-title4= [[Mongalkote]] (R)| shape-color4=#C42222
|mark-coord5={{coord|23|42|6|N|88|2|38|E}} | label-pos5=left|label5= Ketugram| numbered5=R| mark-title5= [[Ketugram]] (R)| shape-color5=#C42222
|mark-coord6={{coord|23|32|44|N|87|54|8|E}} | label-pos6=right|label6= Nutanhat| numbered6=R| mark-title6= [[Nutanhat]] (R)| shape-color6=#C42222
|mark-coord7={{coord|23|43|53|N|87|58|10|E}} | label-pos7=right|label7= Kandra| numbered7=R| mark-title7= [[Kandra, Bardhaman]] (R)| shape-color7=#C42222
|mark-coord8={{coord|23|43|20|N|88|5|52|E}} | label-pos8=top|label8= Gangatikuri| numbered8=R| mark-title8= [[Gangatikuri]] (R)| shape-color8=#C42222
|mark-coord9={{coord|23|27|50|N|88|4|29|E}} | label-pos9=right|label9= Chandrapur| numbered9=R| mark-title9= [[Chandrapur, Bardhaman]] (R)| shape-color9=#C42222
|mark-coord10={{coord|23|34|17|N|87|58|53|E}} | label-pos10=right|label10= Singot| numbered10=R| mark-title10= [[Singot]] (R)| shape-color10=#C42222
|mark-coord11={{coord|23|34|20|N|88|4|47|E}} | label-pos11=right|label11= Srikhanda| numbered11=R| mark-title11= [[Srikhanda]] (R)| shape-color11=#C42222
|mark-coord12={{coord|23|41|8|N|88|8|21|E}} | label-pos12=right|label12=Uddharanpur| numbered12=H| mark-title12= [[Uddharanpur]] (H)| shape-color12=#AA6666
|mark-coord13={{coord|23|32|50|N|87|52|42|E}} | label-pos13=left|label13=Kogram| numbered13=H| mark-title13= [[Kogram]] (H)| shape-color13=#AA6666
|mark-coord14={{coord|23|31|16|N|88|10|43|E}} | label-pos14=right|label14=Sribati| numbered14=H| mark-title14= [[Sribati]] (H)| shape-color14=#AA6666
|mark-coord15={{coord|23|31|16|N|88|5|36|E}} | label-pos15=right|label15=Karui| numbered15=H| mark-title15= [[Karui]] (H)| shape-color15=#AA6666
|mark-coord16={{coord|23|34|50|N|88|2|50|E}} | label-pos16=top|label16= Bankapasi| numbered16=C| mark-title16= [[Bankapasi]] (C)| shape-color16=#C42222
|mark-coord17={{coord|23|30|40|N|88|1|38|E}} | label-pos17=bottom|label17=Kshirgram| numbered17=H| mark-title17= [[Kshirgram]] (H)| shape-color17=#AA6666
|mark-coord18={{coord|23|37|48|N|88|6|13|E}} | label-pos18=left|label18=Jajigram| numbered18=H| mark-title18= [[Jajigram]] (H)| shape-color18=#AA6666
|mark-coord19={{coord|23.6213|88.1915}}| label19=Hooghly River| label-color19 = #77A1CB| label-angle19=20| label-pos19=top| label-size19=10| mark-size19=0| mark-title19 =none
|mark-coord20={{coord|23.6434|87.9914}}| label20=Ajay River| label-color20 = #77A1CB| label-angle20=-5| label-pos20=right| label-size20=10| mark-size20=0| mark-title20 =none}}

===Location===
Katwa is located at {{Coord|23.65|N|88.13|E}}. It has an average elevation of {{convert|21|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It is situated between the [[Ajay River]] and the [[Hooghly River]] and so is bounded by water to the east, west, and north.

===Police station===
Katwa police station has jurisdiction over Katwa and [[Dainhat]] municipalities, and [[Katwa I]] and [[Katwa II]] CD Blocks. The area covered is 351.03 km2.<ref name=handbook2014>{{cite web | url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook | title = District Statistical Handbook 2014 Bardhaman | work = Tables 2.1, 2.2 | publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal | access-date = 23 September 2018 | archive-date = 21 January 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190121045803/http://www.wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://purbabardhamanpolice.org/ps | title = Purba Bardhaman District Police | work = Police Station | publisher = West Bengal Police | access-date = 23 September 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180927234333/http://purbabardhamanpolice.org/ps | archive-date = 27 September 2018 | url-status = usurped }}</ref>

===Urbanisation===
88.44% of the population of the Katwa subdivision live in rural areas. Only 11.56% of the population live in the urban areas.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook | title = District Statistical Handbook 2014 Bardhaman | work = Table 2.2 | publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal | access-date = 25 January 2019 | archive-date = 21 January 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190121045803/http://www.wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook | url-status = dead }}</ref> The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked on the map are linked in the larger full-screen map.

==History==
Katwa (Skt. Kātādvīpa) has been proposed as the "Katadupa" mentioned by [[Pliny the Elder]] (circa 24-74 CE), marking it as the city by which flows the River Amystis, taken to imply the Ajay River.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dasgupta |first1=Biplab |title=European Trade and Colonial Conquest |year=2005 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-1-84331-029-7 |pages=338–339 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YRRnRK8lEYEC&pg=PA339 |language=en}}</ref>

The small town has a historical background of five hundred years. The earliest name of Katwa was Indranee Pargana. Later the name was changed to Kantak Nagari. In January 1510, Sri Sri [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] received "[[Diksha]]" from his guru Kesava Bharati at the site of the current Sri Gauranga Bari Temple in Katwa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vaniquotes.org/wiki/Kesava_Bharati_offered_the_sannyasa_order_to_Sri_Caitanya_Mahaprabhu_in_the_year_1432_sakabda_(A.D._1510)_in_Katwa|title=Kesava Bharati offered the sannyasa order to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the year 1432 sakabda (A.D. 1510) in Katwa - Vaniquotes|website=vaniquotes.org|language=en|access-date=2018-01-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/sri-gauranga-bari-temple-at-katwa-where-lord-caitanya-took-sannya|title=Sri Gauranga Bari Temple at Katwa – Where Lord Caitanya took sannyasa|website=www.iskcondesiretree.com|date=17 March 2016 |language=en|access-date=2018-01-23}}</ref> Since then, this small township has been a sacred place for [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavites]].

The location of the town at the confluence of two navigable rivers, [[Ajay River|Ajay]] and [[Hooghly River|Bhagirathi]], made the town strategically important. Katwa was considered the gateway to [[Murshidabad]], the erstwhile capital of the [[Bengal Subah|subah of Bengal]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Roy|first=Tuhin|title=Unacknowledged Urbanisation and Dynamics of Urban Mobility: An Experience of Katwa Town, District: Burdwan, West Bengal, India|url=http://www.sncwgs.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Unacknowledged-Urbanisation-and-Dynamics-of-Urban-Mobility.pdf|journal=Quest: Multidisciplinary Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences|volume=3|pages=5|archive-date=5 December 2021|access-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205163920/http://www.sncwgs.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Unacknowledged-Urbanisation-and-Dynamics-of-Urban-Mobility.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Nawab [[Murshid Quli Khan]], Nawab of Bengal, first established a ''chowki'' at Katwa during his reign (1717-1727).<ref name=":1" /> Between 1742 and 1751, Katwa was invaded by the [[Bargi]]s (break-away Maratha groups) several times, as part of the [[Maratha invasions of Bengal]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Land of Two Rivers|last=Sengupta|first=Nitish|publisher=Penguin Books|year=2011|isbn=9780143416784|pages=158–162; 170}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bonerjea.org/2015/09/10/bargi-the-maratha-plunder-menace-of-bengal/|title=Bargi: The Maratha Plunder Menace In Bengal|date=2015-09-10|work=Señor Bonerjea|access-date=2018-01-23|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819152235/https://bonerjea.org/2015/09/10/bargi-the-maratha-plunder-menace-of-bengal/|archive-date=19 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was the site of the [[First Battle of Katwa]] (1742) and the [[Second Battle of Katwa]] (1745), with Nawab [[Alivardi Khan]] of [[Nawabs of Bengal and Murshidabad|Bengal]] defeating the Marathas both times. In the [[Battle of Plassey]] (1757), on 19 June 1757, Katwa was the last Nawabi garrison conquered by British forces before heading to [[Palashi|Plassey]]. [[Robert Clive]] held a council of war in Katwa on 21 June 1757, where the decision was taken to cross the [[Hooghly River]] to Plassey.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/decisivebattleso00malluoft|page=[https://archive.org/details/decisivebattleso00malluoft/page/52 52]|quote=Mir Qasim battle katwa.|title=The Decisive Battles of India, from 1746 to 1849 Inclusive|last=Malleson|first=George Bruce|date=1885|publisher=Allen|language=en}}</ref> On 19 July 1763, Katwa was once again the scene of action during the [[Third Battle of Katwa]], where British troops fought and defeated a contingent of troops loyal to [[Mir Qasim|Nawab Mir Qasim]].<ref name=":6" />

Under the aegis of the [[East India Company|British East India Company]], Katwa became an urban settlement, encouraged by the presence of missionaries such as William Carey Jr., the son of [[William Carey (missionary)|William Carey]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jbrannan.pagesperso-orange.fr/robinson.htm|title=William Robinson|website=jbrannan.pagesperso-orange.fr|access-date=2018-01-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/MN41587ucmf_5|title=What I owe to Christ [microform]|last=Andrews|first=C. F. (Charles Freer)|date=c. 1932|publisher=New York, Cincinnati [etc.] : The Abingdon press|others=Internet Archive|quote='Religion flourishes at Katwa more than at any other station in the Mission.' (p. 277)}}</ref> By the 1800s, Katwa had become a thriving trading town with the principal economic activity being the riverine trade in salt.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Roy|first=Tuhin|title=Unacknowledged Urbanisation and Dynamics of Urban Mobility: An Experience of Katwa Town, District: Burdwan, West Bengal, India|url=http://www.sncwgs.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Unacknowledged-Urbanisation-and-Dynamics-of-Urban-Mobility.pdf|journal=Quest: Multidisciplinary Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences|volume=3|pages=13–14|archive-date=5 December 2021|access-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205163920/http://www.sncwgs.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Unacknowledged-Urbanisation-and-Dynamics-of-Urban-Mobility.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The modern town of Katwa was established in 1850 when it was granted the status of a subdivisional town under the 10th Act of Municipal Rules.<ref name=":2" /> The Municipality of Katwa as a governing entity was established on 1 April 1869.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Peterson|first=J.C.K.|date=1997|title=Bengal District Gazetteers - Burdwan|url=http://bardhaman.nic.in/distgazet/ch13.pdf|publisher=Government of West Bengal|pages=218}}</ref> The urbanization of Katwa received a further boost with the construction of railroads in the early 20th century: [[Barharwa–Azimganj–Katwa loop|Katwa-Azimganj]] (constructed in 1903), Katwa-Bandel (1912), [[McLeod's Light Railways#Burdwan-Katwa Railway|Katwa-Bardhaman]] (1915), [[McLeod's Light Railways#Ahmedpur-Katwa Railway|Katwa-Ahmedpur]] (1917).

==Demographics==
As per the [[2011 Census of India]], Katwa had a total population of 81,615, of which 41,350 (51%) were males and 40,265 (49%) were females. The population below 6 years was 6,799. The total number of literates in Katwa was 65,187 (79.87% of the population over 6 years).<ref>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/pcadata/Houselisting-housing-WB.html |title = 2011 Census - Primary Census Abstract Data Tables | work= West Bengal – District-wise |publisher= Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India | access-date = 10 March 2017 }}</ref>

In 2011, the population breakdown by religion was: Hindus (66,899), Muslims (14,488), Sikhs (50), Christians (44), Buddhists (9), Jains (4), and Unspecified/Not Stated (121).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|title=Census of India 2011. C-01 Population By Religious Community (India & States/UTs/District/Sub-Distt/Town Level)|access-date=22 January 2017}}</ref>{{Bar box|title=Religion in Katwa|titlebar=#ddd|float=right|bars={{bar percent|[[Hindu]]|Orange|81.97}}
{{bar percent|[[Muslim]]|Green|17.75}}
{{bar percent|[[Christians|Christian]]|Blue|0.06}}
{{bar percent|Others|Yellow|0.22}}}}Katwa has a total area of 8.53 km2 with a population density of 9,681/km2.<ref>[http://bardhaman.nic.in/census/popdensity.html#uui Population data on urban units of Bardhaman]</ref> A steady flow of refugees from East Pakistan increased the population of the area in the fifties.<ref>Chattopadhyay, Akkori, ''Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti'' (History and folklore of Bardhaman District.), {{in lang|bn}}, Vol I, p57, Radical Impression. {{ISBN|81-85459-36-3}}</ref>
[[File:Katwa Population Growth.jpg|thumb|Population Growth of Katwa (1872-2011)]]
[[File:Krishnachandra Temple WLM2016.jpg|thumb|Krishnachandra Temple, Katwa]]

==Economy==
The economy of Katwa is based on agriculture and agro-related trades. The fertile soil of the surrounding areas is enriched by the alluvium from the Hooghly, Ajay and Damodar rivers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bardhaman.nic.in/geography.html|title=Geography : Burdwan District|website=bardhaman.nic.in|access-date=2018-02-09}}</ref> The major crops farmed in the countryside surrounding Katwa include rice, jute, mustard, sugarcane, tea, coffee and various tropical vegetables.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bardhamanonline.in/city-guide/business-and-economy-of-bardhaman|title=Business and Economy of Bardhaman, Industries in Bardhaman|website=www.bardhamanonline.in|access-date=2018-02-09}}</ref> Katwa is an essential center for marketing the region's agricultural products and for providing retail and consumer services to the surrounding population.<ref name=":2" /> Industries are limited to cottage industries and small-scale agro-related industries, e.g. rice mills, jute products, etc.

Within the urban area, as of 2011, 0.81% of workers are employed in the primary (agricultural) sector, 5.96% of workers are employed in the secondary (manufacturing) sector, and 93.70% of workers are employed in the tertiary (services) sector.<ref name=":1" />

The [[Katwa Super Thermal Power Station]] is a super critical (660MW x2) 1320 MW coal-fired power plant currently in planning stage by [[NTPC Limited|NTPC]] at [[Srikhanda|Srikhanda Village]], 8 km from Katwa.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/Industry/L7RRFmHEjxYKS04SIkUVpL/NTPC-puts-Katwa-power-project-on-hold.html|title=NTPC puts Katwa power project on hold|last=Majumdar|first=Arkamoy Dutta|date=2017-04-12|work=livemint.com/|access-date=2018-01-23}}</ref>

===Tourism===
Areas of tourism interest in the town include:
* Sri Gauranga Bari Temple: where Sri Sri [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] received "[[Diksha]]" from his guru Kesava Bharati.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://www.indiatravelcompanion.com/west_bengal/katwa|title=West Bengal : Katwa|work=IndiaTravelCompanion.com|access-date=2018-02-11|archive-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211131556/http://www.indiatravelcompanion.com/west_bengal/katwa|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://bardhaman.nic.in/tourism/tourism.htm|title=Tourism : Burdwan District|website=bardhaman.nic.in|access-date=2018-02-11}}</ref>
* Madhaitala Ashram: the [[ashram]] was visited by Jagai and Madhai, two famous disciples of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and remains a center of [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism|Gaudiya Vaishnav]] culture.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />
* Shah Alam's [[Dargah]]: a building of archaeological interest built in the early-18th century by [[Murshid Quli Khan|Nawab Murshid Quli Khan]], Nawab of Bengal.<ref name=":5" />

==Human resources==

===Library===
* Katwa Sub-Divisional Library<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wbpublibnet.gov.in/townlib/districts/bardhamaan/katwa-sub-divisional-library.html|title=Town Library Automation » Katwa Sub-Divisional Library|website=www.wbpublibnet.gov.in|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209182322/http://www.wbpublibnet.gov.in/townlib/districts/bardhamaan/katwa-sub-divisional-library.html|archive-date=9 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Public health===
Katwa Sub-Divisional Hospital is a 250-bed public facility providing secondary healthcare to [[Katwa subdivision|Katwa sub-divisional]] area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/pages/search_hospitals|title=Welcome to WB HEALTH Portal|website=www.wbhealth.gov.in|access-date=2018-02-09|archive-date=9 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209122242/https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/pages/search_hospitals|url-status=dead}}</ref> There are a number of private nursing centers that serve the town, as well.<ref name=":2" />

Anandaniketan Society for Mental Health Care is a not-for-profit organization situated five kilometers outside of Katwa, providing residential care to 350 children, adolescents, and adults who have physical, mental, and/or intellectual disabilities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.equalhealth.org.au/view/anandaniketan|title=Anandaniketan|website=www.equalhealth.org.au|access-date=2018-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210062039/http://www.equalhealth.org.au/view/anandaniketan|archive-date=10 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Public safety===
Purba Bardhaman District Police's Katwa Police Station has jurisdiction over Katwa and [[Dainhat]] municipality areas and [[Katwa I]] and [[Katwa II]] CD Blocks. The area covered is 351.03 km2.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dospiwb.org.in/site.php|title=District Statistical Handbook 2014 Burdwan|work=Table 2.1|publisher=Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729135056/http://www.dospiwb.org.in/site.php|archive-date=29 July 2017|url-status=usurped|access-date=26 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://burdwanpolice.org/ps|title=Burdwan District Police|work=Police Station|publisher=West Bengal Police|access-date=26 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010007/http://burdwanpolice.org/ps|archive-date=21 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Culture==
The dominant culture of Katwa is identical to that of most of [[Culture of West Bengal|West Bengal]] and is deeply influenced by [[Bengali Hindus|Hindu Bengali]] culture. Some of the popular festivals in Katwa include:
* [[Poyla Boishakh]] or Bengali New Year (14/15 April)
* [[Rath Yatra]] (July)
* [[Mahalaya]] (September/October)
* [[Durga Puja]] (September/October)
* [[Lakshmi Puja]] (October)
* [[Kali Puja]] (October/November) and [[Deepawali]]
* [[Kartikeya|Kartik Larai]] (November)
* [[Saraswati]] Puja (February/March)
* [[Dol Purnima]] or Dol Yatra (February/March)
* [[Gaura-purnima]], the birthday of [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] (February/March)
* [[Muharram]]

=== Kartik Larai ===
[[File:সাত ভাই কার্তিক ঠাকুরের থাকা.jpg|thumb|Kartik Puja at Katwa]]
Katwa and its surrounding areas are especially well known for their peaceful Kartik Puja, colloquially known as ''Kartik Larai'' (''Larai'' means "battle" in Bengali).<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sangbadpratidin.in/katwa-celebrates-kartik-puja-devotees-throng-pandals/|title=কেন আজও ন্যাংটো কার্তিকের পুজো হয় কাটোয়ায়?|work=Sangbad Pratidin|access-date=2018-02-08|language=bn|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220203424/http://www.sangbadpratidin.in/katwa-celebrates-kartik-puja-devotees-throng-pandals/|archive-date=20 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bengali.news18.com/news/kartik-puja-celebration-at-katwa-157717.html|title=আলোয় সেজেছে রাস্তা, কার্তিক পুজোকে ঘিরে জমজমাট কাটোয়া– News18 Bengali|website=bengali.news18.com|date=17 November 2017 |access-date=2018-02-08}}</ref> The object of worship is the boy-faced deity, [[Kartikeya|Kartik]] in reference to the youth of the deity. In the greater Katwa area, over 250 separate organizations organize pujas and joyfully compete with each other over the sophistication of the theme or the sculpture of the deity.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.anandabazar.com/district/bardhaman/new-theme-at-kartik-puja-and-chou-nach-1.514629|title=কার্তিকের থিমে কুরুক্ষেত্র, ছৌ|work=Anandabazar Patrika|access-date=2018-02-08|language=bn}}</ref> After the day of the puja, the deities are paraded in carnival throughout town on their way to be ritually submerged in the nearby Hooghly River. The processions usually feature religious music and dancing, leading to a town-wide, festival-like ambiance (jovially named ''ladai'' or battle) enjoyed by all participants and spectators.<ref name=":3" />

==Transportation==

===Railway===
[[File:Katwa railway station IMG 20200212 224729.jpg|thumb|Katwa railway station]]
[[Katwa railway station|Katwa Junction]] is a railway junction on {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] railway line from [[Howrah railway station]] to [[New Jalpaiguri railway station]] via [[Azimganj Junction railway station]]. Although Katwa is a railway junction, the number of trains running through this station is less.

The [[McLeod's Light Railways#Burdwan-Katwa Railway|Bardhaman-Katwa line]], after conversion from narrow gauge to electrified broad gauge, was opened to the public on 12 January 2018.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.anandabazar.com/district/bardhaman/katwa-burdwan-broad-gauge-trains-started-at-last-1.739229 |title = Baro rail Katwae, jamlo bhidr (Big railway in Katwa, crowd gathers) | work= Bengali |publisher= Ananda Bazar Patrika, 13 January 2018 | access-date = 13 January 2018}}</ref>

The [[Ahmedpur-Katwa Railway]] line has been converted from narrow gauge to broad gauge which provides access to [[Rampurhat Junction railway station]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOIKM/2014/02/09/19/Img/Ad0191102.png | title=Introduction of Barddhaman-Balgona EMU Special Train with effect from 11.2.2014 | newspaper=The Times of India | author=Eastern Railway | access-date=27 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618172236/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOIKM%2F2014%2F02%2F09%2F19%2FImg%2FAd0191102.png | archive-date=18 June 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Waterway===
Katwa is the site of a floating terminal on [[National Waterway 1]] consisting of a pontoon placed on the waterfront with a berth of 30 m (98 ft).

==Government and politics==
The town of Katwa is divided into twenty administrative wards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://aitcofficial.org/aitc/number-of-wards-to-be-increased-in-26-municipalities-in-bengal/|title=Number of wards to be increased in 26 municipalities in Bengal: All India Trinamool Congress|website=aitcofficial.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-09}}</ref> Each ward elects a councilor to the governing body, Katwa Municipality.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbdma.gov.in/HTM/DIS/MUNI_ULB_Katwa.htm|title=Official Web Site of Department of Municipal Affairs, Govt of West Bengal|website=www.wbdma.gov.in|access-date=2018-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219075211/http://wbdma.gov.in/HTM/DIS/MUNI_ULB_Katwa.htm|archive-date=19 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Municipal elections are held every five years, with the most recent election held in 2022.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Kolkata Gazette: West Bengal State Election Commission Notification|publisher=Government of West Bengal|year=2015|location=Kolkata|pages=343}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Katwa (Lok Sabha constituency)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Purba Bardhaman District}}
{{Municipalities of West Bengal}}
{{Purba Bardhaman topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Purba Bardhaman district]]

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