Cuttack: The auspicious Maha Navami puja of Maa Durga was held amid religious fervour in and around the millenium city on Tuesday. A sea of devotees thronged more han 170 puja pandals which were decked up with glittering lights, coloured clothes and a variety of decorations.
The scene at the Shakti Peeths was also very devotional with sound of conch and cymbals reverberating in the atmosphere. While the Navami Puja is celebrated amid much fanfar in various puja mandaps, in some of those, unique traditions like worshipping little girls is followed.
The idols of Hara-Parvati was worshiped at Haripur Puja Mandap, a tradition followed since 1972. In 1997, the idol of Maa Durga was erected here and since then, the customs of ‘Kumari Puja’ is organised at the mandap on Navami.
The significance of ‘Kumari Puja’ being – nine little girls are decorated as 9 forms of Maa Durga and they are worshiped on the stage. People also give them gifts as offering. It is said that these little girls are a special part of Maa Durga, so worshiping them leads to growth in happiness, peace and prosperity.
