Fragrance of flowers, sandalwood paste, wood apple leaves, and basil leaves filled Radhagovinda Shantaneshwari Matrimandir in Patharghata as Chattogram celebrated Kumari Puja on the Ashtami tithi of Durga Puja on Monday.
Three young girls – Radhashree Datta Vrinda, Rittwika Das, and Adishree Kor – were worshipped in the sacred forms of Uma, Malini, and Aparajita before several hundred worshippers during the ritual that began at 10:30 am.
Devotees assembled at the temple premises to behold the ritual, paying homage to the divine feminine embodied in childhood innocence.
Ancient traditions and scriptural roots
Reflecting on the profound spiritual depth of the occasion, Shamananda Das, mohanta of Radhagovinda Shantaneshwari Temple, said that the significance of Kumari Puja is vast and that its tradition has been prevalent since Satya Yuga.
According to scriptures, the goddess appeared in the form of a maiden across various eras to assist the gods in tasks including the slaying of demons.
It is also believed that she informed Sri Ramachandra of the way to slay Ravana and appeared before Arjuna in the form of a maiden during the Kurukshetra war.
Symbol of universal power
The mohanta explained that according to scriptures, worship does not yield full results without Kumari Puja. He added that the form of the mother exists in nature and maternal power resides among women in humanity.
Worshipping women in the form of the mother will increase their respect in society and awaken positive forces. He emphasised that there is no distinction of caste, religion, or creed in Kumari Puja, as a maiden of any caste is worshipful as a manifestation of the goddess.
According to the mohanta, the triple power through which creation, preservation, and destruction continuously occur in the universe lies inherent in seed form within a maiden. She is a symbol of nature and womanhood, which is why divinity is attributed to her during worship.
Although Kumari Puja is mentioned in ancient scriptures, the ritual experienced a revival through the philosophy of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who had worshipped his wife Sarada Devi with the reverence of a mother. Later, in 1901, Swami Vivekananda introduced Kumari Puja at Belur Math.
Celebrations across the city
Meanwhile, the spiritual fervour of Ashtami resonated across the city on Monday morning as the Bihit Puja of Ashtami was performed at various puja mandaps in Chattogram city. Devotees offered Anjali at the feet of Goddess Durga and received blessings.
The Sandhi Puja was held at the juncture marking the end of Ashtami tithi and the beginning of Navami tithi. A total of 294 mandaps are celebrating Sharadiya Durga Puja in Chattogram city this year.
