NALBARI, Oct 18 - The 515-year-old Durga Puja of Barnardi village in Nalbari district will be held with a five-day programme from tomorrow.
According to the villagers, the Barnardi Durga Puja began during the Ahom rule and is one of the oldest puja in the State. They added that during the Ahom rule Sailyokantha Ray Baruah first started the Durga Puja and on the Navami Puja he reportedly sacrificed human. Even the Ahom King was angry for the human sacrifice and sent people to arrest Sailyokantha. Though human sacrifices were performed in the Barnardi Durga Puja now animal sacrifice is totally banned here. The devotees here released the animals after being worshipped before the Devi.
The important thing of this Durga Puja is that the villagers don�t collect donation with receipt books. The spontaneous donation offered by the devotees is the main income of this puja. The Barnardi Durga Puja has no provision of clay models and the royal tradition is still active.
In Nalbari district nearly 80 communities Durga Puja will be held including historic Bilbeswar Devalaya, Bagheswari Devalaya, Balilecha Kali Mandir. The Durga Puja of Nalbari Harimandir, Gopal Bazaar Durga Mandir, Ulabari, Karia, Bagalchak, Deharkuchi, Bargasa, Bihampur, Mukalmua, Tihu will attract the visitors.
