Devotees thronged a Durga Puja mandap at Gurucharan Roy’s Akhra in Brahmanbaria town on Monday as Kumari Puja was observed on Maha Ashtami, the eighth day of the Hindu festival.
Organised by the Town Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee, the ritual involved worshipping Goddess Durga in the form of a young girl through traditional religious rites.
This year, 10-year-old Ishita Chakraborty was worshipped as the Kumari, drawing large crowds of devotees to the mandap from the afternoon.
Devotees Gayatri Saha, Rakesh Roy and Sanjay Saha said Kumari represents a manifestation of Goddess Durga. They noted that Swami Vivekananda introduced the practice of worshipping a young girl as the divine mother at Belur Math in 1901, after which the tradition gained popularity among devotees.
“We pray to the goddess in her Kumari form for the well-being of our families and everyone else. We also seek her blessings to destroy evil forces and establish peace through the triumph of good over evil,” they said.
Purohit Prosenjit Chakraborty of the Town Sarbojanin Durga Puja Mandap said, according to Hindu mythology, Kumari Puja is associated with the slaying of the demon Kolasura by the goddess in her maiden form.
According to the legend, Kolasura seized control of heaven and earth, prompting the distressed gods to seek the help of Goddess Mahakali. Responding to their prayers, the goddess took the form of a young girl and defeated the demon. The ritual of Kumari Puja is believed to have originated from this legend.
Earlier in the morning, devotees observed Sandhi Puja, a significant ritual marking the transition between Ashtami and Navami. The ceremony concluded with the lighting of 108 lamps.
In the evening, puja mandaps across the town were set to host dhunuchi dances and traditional arati rituals. Families were also expected to visit temples in groups to offer prayers and join the festivities.
