Worshipping Goddess Durga and invoking the Shakti has been a part of our Hindu culture since ages. The adage ‘Matru Devo Bhava’ (mother is divine) resonates deeply with Hindus, who worship idols of Goddess Durga with devotion during Durga Puja. However, a striking paradox emerges when we lavishly celebrate this festival, yet often overlook the living women around us who shape our lives and contribute to society with selfless dedication.
At a time when we spent a huge chunk of money to celebrate the Durga puja with fanfare, we hardly respect the living women around us. We forget the commitment of mothers who shaped our lives and have been silently working for the well-being of society without expecting anything in return.
Keeping this in mind, a few noble-hearted persons from Balasore came forward to conduct NabaMatruka Puja. They organise the event to honour the women’s power and worship them.
Nabaratri Puja is a celebration of the divine feminine energy, where Goddess Durga’s nine forms are worshipped with devotion and reverence. Each form represents a unique aspect of the goddess, from strength and courage to wisdom and prosperity. As Nabaratri Puja festivities are underway, Ommcom News takes you on a journey to explore the inspiring story behind NabaMatruka Puja – a celebration that honours the power of women and respects women. Let’s dive into its inception and discover the compelling reasons that drive this meaningful observance.
Every year, NabaMatruka Puja is celebrated with great fervour in Bhubaneswar and Balasore, where 18 mothers (nine each) are honoured as part of the festivities.
The women honoured during NabaMatruka Puja are not merely felicitated; they are worshipped with the same devotion typically reserved for deities. Through rituals like ‘homa and yajna’ (Hawan), these women are treated as embodiments of the divine feminine, much like Goddess Durga herself. The sacred rites and reverential ambience aim to make them feel honoured, respected, and celebrated.
All About Naba Matruka Puja
As Dussehra approaches, people from all walks of life come together to worship Goddess Durga, although they hardly care for their own mothers and often disrespect them. NabaMatruka Puja is an attempt to instil respect for women in everyone’s hearts, ultimately reducing crimes and atrocities against them. This is what Kesu Das, the man behind the concept of NabaMatruka Puja.
Ancient Roots Of Mother Worship
Das draws a profound link between NabaMatruka Puja and ancient scriptures, emphasising the importance of Shakti – the divine feminine energy.
“While God is credited with creating, maintaining, and destroying the universe, it is Shakti – the feminine power – that enables these actions. This Shakti is often depicted in female form and worshipped alongside God as the Divine Mother, marking the origin of Mother Worship. In Hindu mythology, Lord Ram is said to have worshipped the nine forms of the Shakti, known as the Naba Matruka, to seek their blessings and gain strength to defeat the Demon King Ravana. These nine forms are the embodiment of the feminine energy and are revered for their power and protection”, Das said.
He further said, “According to legend, Lord Ram completed eight days of Nabaratri puja with utmost dedication, but it was on the ninth day that he faced a test of his devotion. To mark the culmination of the festival, Ram sought 108 lotus flowers to worship Shakti, the divine feminine energy. He entrusted Hanuman with the task of bringing the lotuses from the Himalayas. Lord Hanuman successfully brought 108 lotuses, but to Rama’s dismay, one flower went missing. Determined to fulfill his obligation, Ram was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. With one lotus short, he prepared to pluck out his own eye to offer it to the goddess. Just as Ram was about to take the drastic step, the goddess appeared before him, acknowledging his devotion and accepting his worship. This ancient tale beautifully illustrates the deep-rooted connection between Shakti puja and Hindu culture.
“A human mother is as worthy of reverence and worship as the Divine Mother or Shakti. While worshipping Goddess Durga is a grand celebration, it’s ironic that women are often disrespected and assaulted at home,” he notes. This stark contrast inspired Das to introduce NabaMatruka Puja, a celebration aimed at honouring mothers and promoting a culture of respect for women.
Through NabaMatruka Puja, observed during Nabaratri celebrations, Das hopes to bring about a shift in societal mindset. “We believe that by honouring mothers and women, we can create a more respectful and compassionate society.
The Birth of Naba Matruka Puja
In 2011, a meaningful initiative was born in Balasore. On the day of Pratipada, Das, founder of Balasori Kala Kendra, and MamataMohapatra, editor of the women’s magazine “Jugashree Juganari,” came together to organise Naba Matruka Puja. Over the course of nine days, culminating on Dussehra, nine women were felicitated, with a special ceremony on Nabami where nine women were worshipped together at Brat Kalyan Mandap. The event received widespread appreciation, leading the organisers to decide to make it an annual tradition during Nabaratri celebrations.
In 2012, nine dignified women from rural areas were felicitated at NabaMatruka Puja held at Dubulagadischool, 35 km away from Balasore city, in collaboration with Das and Mohapatra. In the following year, a committee was formed in Bhubaneswar to celebrate NabaMatruka Puja at the state level. Litterateur Satakadi Hota and editor of a magazine, Sakuntala Baliarsingh, were chosen as its chairman and convener, respectively. Engineer Priyabrata Das was chosen as its promoter. Among others, Kesu Das, MamataMohapatra, SaswatiBal, Prabhabati Panda and BirendraKar played crucial roles in making the event successful in the state capital.
Since its inception, the puja has honoured over 180 elderly ladies, recognising their selfless service and dedication to society. The aim is to spread this culture so that a day will come when every village will adopt such a tradition during Durga Puja.
“Instead of worshipping idols, the organisation has taken a Vedic approach by felicitating nine respectable elderly ladies (over 75 years old) who have made significant contributions to society. This initiative, carried out for the past 12 years, aims to honour the selfless service and dedication of women,” said another organiser.
Women being felicitated as part of Nabamatruka Puja this year at a function organised in Bhubaneswar are LabanyabatiNayak, Sita Das, BimalaMohanty, Kasturiba Patnaik, Jharana Patnaik, Pravati Mishra, Swarna Mishra, SwarupaChakraborty and SnehapravaSamantray.
Additionally, a separate function will be held at Remuna to honour nine other distinguished women, further expanding the celebration’s reach and impact.
By RashmiRekha Das
