Rameswarpur is a village near Dhamnagar in Bhadrak district of Orissa, India. This settlement was initiated about four centuries ago during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar by the "Ghosh Mahashays" who migrated to permanently settle down here, having come as a part of the contingent of Todarmal during his famed survey of India. This small village also boasts of conducting the oldest Durga Puja on record at the same venue anywhere in the world, which continues from the first of the Mahashays.Before the concept of Sarvajanin Durga Puja started, it was being conducted by princely houses and the first such Puja being conducted anywhere in the world at the same venue and continuing till date is in Orissa. It is at Rameswarpur in Bhadrak district of the state, where it was started about four centuries ago by the Mahashay family (Roy family) who migrated in from Kotarang near Howrah as a part of Todarmal's famous survey with Shri Chaitanya Dev of India during Emperor Akbar's rule.Rameswarpur is in the banks of River Genguti. Rameswarpur holds the record of performing the oldest Durga Puja in the World.The Mahashays, who were benevolent Zamindars, gradually lost hold of the land they once owned, still continue the Puja as a part of their centuries old tradition. The family direct bloodline relates to the Luminaries like Annada Shankar Ray whose father incidentally had shifted base to Dhenkanal, also in Orissa following a family feud.The Mahashays were famous for benevolent activities. The Village also conducts the "Raksha Kali" Puja which was initially conducted by the Mahashay family but later converted to "Sarbajanin" by handing over to the villagers as a very large number of animal sacrifices [1] were started by the surrounding villagers during the Puja, which did not go well with the Roy family.The 500-year-old Durga Puja of the Mahashays is still being organised by the Roy family, which includes the family members of Late Shri Trailokyonath Roy and Late Smt.Shakuntala Roy
