Thaindian News

Kolkata, Sep 26 (IANS) Thousands of devotees congregated at Belur Math, the global headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, to watch ‘Kumari Puja’ or the worship of a pre-puberscent girl, as Durga Puja fervour reached a peak on Mahashtami - the second day of the four-day festival in West Bengal Saturday.
Across the state, people thronged puja pandals (marquees) to make offerings and participate in the worship of pre-pubescent girls. Chanting hymns, the young and the old offered anjali (prayer) and stood in long queues before idols of the goddess Durga.

Belur Math, in Kolkata’s twin district Howrah, about 10 km from here, saw a sea of humanity as people watched the monks worship a Kumari as the ‘Mother Goddess’. The sacred ritual is an integral part of Mahashtami celebration.

“I come here every year. One of the reasons I visit India this time of the year is to come here,” said Swapan Sarkar, a US-based NRI, who had come to Belur Math with his family.

According to Hindu mythology, Kumari Puja was started to establish the value of women. The maiden who is worshipped symbolises the power that regulates creation, stability and destruction on the earth.

Kumari Puja was resurrected by the famous religious leader Ramakrishna Paramahansa Deb in the late 19th century.

With the weatherman’s prediction of rains turning out to be a false alarm, men and women turned out in their best attire on the city streets, visiting the marquees, and the footfalls increased as the day turned into evening which gave way to night.

“Mahashtami is the climax of the puja celebrations. Tomorrow is Navami, which brings a tinge of sadness as realisation dawns in that the festivities are coming to a close,” said Santanu Bhattacharya of Jodhpur Park in the southern part of the city.

Big-ticket pujas like College Square, Santosh Mitra Square, Ekdalia Evergreen, Mohd. Ali Park, Jodhpur Park, Sree Bhoomi drew huge crowds.

In south Kolkata, Shivmandir community puja decorated the marquee with banana plant with the goddess astride a boat made of banana leaves.

At Mudialai community puja, the pandal was made of plaster of paris and stain glass resembling temples of Rajasthan.

Organisers of Bose Pukur Shetala Mandir community puja have opted for the ‘Jogini’ form of Devi Durga and Tantra as the theme. Eight different ‘jogini’ forms of the mother goddess have been created with the marquee looking like a cave and the lighting highlighting the theme.

As per Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga, the slayer of the demon Mahishashur, is lion-borne and wields an array of arms in her 10 hands.

It is believed that during the Durga Puja festival, the goddess, accompanied by Ganesh, Kartik, Lakshmi and Saraswati, descends on the earth after invocation and supplication of the devotees for her appearance. She stays on for four days to eradicate all evil from the earth.