March 19, 2024 09:06 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Death toll in Kolkata's under-construction illegal building collapse rises to 9 | LS polls: BJP to contest 17 seats in Bihar, JDU gets 16, Chirag Paswan's party 5 | PM Modi twisting my 'Shakti' remark: Rahul Gandhi issues clarification after receiving flak | Supreme Court asks SBI to disclose 'all information related to electoral bonds' | Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan resigns
Amidst offering of Pushpanjali, festive fever reaches peak on Maha Ashtami

Amidst offering of Pushpanjali, festive fever reaches peak on Maha Ashtami

India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms | 06 Oct 2019, 09:46 am

Kolkata, Oct 6 (IBNS): The festive spirit in Kolkata reached its peak on Sunday as the Maha Ashtami celebrations of the Durga Puja commenced amidst cloudy sky.

The day began amid the pious 'pushpanjali' (prayers with flowers), where thousands of devotees offered their prayers to the Goddess in empty stomach at various marquees (puja pandal) across the state.

Devotees clad in traditional attires assembled at the 'pandals' to offer their 'pushpanjali' to the goddess.

According to old beliefs, all prayers are answered by the Goddess on this day.

The ritual of 'pushpanjali' was followed by an aarti with five-lamps, incense sticks, flowers and other puja items.

The pushpanjali this year was soon followed by the 'Sandhi' puja.

But it is not only the 'pushpanjali' that make Maha Ashtami all the more special; rather it is the custom of 'Kumari Puja' which is the real point of attraction on this day.

During the 'Kumari Puja', pre-pubescent girls are worshipped as incarnation of Goddess Durga.

It is considered that the ritual is performed to appease the Goddess who controls shristi, shthiti and vinash (creation, stability and destruction) of the universe.

Meanwhile, different parts of the city are witnessing traffic clots and are posing a threat to the pandal hopping.

 

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.