GAURIPUR, Oct 13 - The 402-year-old Durga Puja of the historic Mahamaya temple of Bogribari under the present BTAD area will begin from Monday. Besides Durga Puja, Chandi Puja, Sandhi Puja, Marai Puja and Padma Puja will also be held.
Everyday, the Goddess will be worshipped with the offering of 1000 �belpatra�. Hundreds of animals and birds including goats and buffalos will also be sacrificed. Everyday, thousands of devotees will assemble at the temple and offer prayers.
According to legends, Hatibar Chaudhury, the Zaminder of the Royal Bogribari Estate started Durga Puja at the temple premises 402 years ago and since then, the management committee of the temple complex has been performing Durga Puja without a break.
On Navami Puja, a large number of goats and buffaloes are expected to be sacrificed. As per tradition, the idol of the Goddess Durga is not immersed. A number of invited troupes are scheduled to sing songs based on the story of Padmapurana. Like in previous years, this year also more than one lakh devotees are expected to take part in the historic Durga Puja, informs Pradip Bhattacharjya, Secretary of the committee.
Durga Puja at Gauripur: This year, Durga Puja will be celebrated at 135 places all over greater Gauripur. Besides, the 418-year-old Royal Durga Puja of the Zaminder family of Gauripur, Khudimari, Madhusoulmari will celebrate Durga Puja in a befitting manner. Harisabha Puja Committee has made elaborate arrangements for the visitors and a souvenir will also be published. The Bazar Puja Committee has arranged competitions on dance and ethnic songs. A female club of the mini town has chalked out attractive programmes on the auspicious Ashtami and Navami Puja. Bina Mandir Club, a famous NGO of Gauripur will maintain cleanliness in and around the Puja complex. Meanwhile, the district administration has asked the puja committees to celebrate Puja by maintaining peace and harmony. Security arrangements are also being intensified to prevent any untoward incidents during the period.
