Kumari Puja Observed

[Guest guest]

DAKKA, Bangladesh (Oct. 1, 2006): Hindu devotees across the country

will observe the Mahanabami at Puja Mandaps today amid due religious

fervour and festivity.

 

Bhog (offering) of delicious food and fruits will be made to Devi

Durga, the goddess of supreme power, and later distributed among the

devotees.

 

Meanwhile, thousands of ardent believers performed Kumari Puja

yesterday on the Mahaastami of the five-day long Durga Puja. A girl

aged between six and 12, symbolising the Kumari (virgin) form of

Durga, is worshipped in front of the idol of the goddess as a living

replica of her on this day.

 

The devotees knelt down in front of the Kumari, a six-year-old girl

adorned with flowers and ornaments with alta-decorated feet and a

tilak of sindur on her forehead, at the Ramkrishna Mission Temple in

the city yesterday.

 

According to Hindu scriptures, Kumari Puja commemorates the killing of

Kolasur by the Goddess Maha Kali. Legend goes that Kolasur had

occupied the heavens and the earth. As the helpless deities approached

Mohakali for help, she was born again in the form of a maiden named

Durga and killed Kolasur.

 

Special devotional songs, dances and aratis were performed at

different puja mandaps on the occasion of the Kumari Puja.

 

People of all walks of life gathered in city's puja mandaps including

Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University, Ramkrishna Mission, Ramna Kali

Mandir, Siddheswari Kali Mandir, Tanti Bazar, Bangla Bazar to see the

idols of Durga.

 

Shandhi Puja was also observed yesterday night according to the lunar

schedule.

 

However, the devotees suffered due to repeated load-sheddings during

the whole day, Jayanta Sen Dipu, president of Mahanagar Sarbajanin

Puja Committee told the Daily Star. "We cannot maintain all rituals

that we used to perform in the earlier years due to load shedding," he

added.

 

However, the Committee president appreciated the law and security

measures taken up by the government.

 

The devotees will bid farewell to the goddess along with her children

and immerse the idols in river after observing Bijoya Dashami tomorrow.

 

SOURCE: The Daily Star, Dakka

URL: http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/10/01/d61001011810.htm