BARPETA May 3 - People of Baghbar area in Barpeta district today performed the age-old Bagheswari puja at the historic Bagheswari temple there with devotion. People cutting across religious and caste lines participated in the festival with enthusiasm.
A large gathering was seen in front of the temple situated on the foothills of Baghbar hill and offered mother Bagheswari coins and other materials. They lit earthen lamps and incense sticks and prayed for the wellbeing of the human kind. Some offered pairs of pigeons to satisfy the Goddess. Bagrumba dance by a folk of Bodo young girls continued during the puja.
Though the festival was limited to Bodo people of that locality, a large number of non-tribal people living in that area participated this year as a mark of solidarity. Once inhabiting in a large area in Baghbar, Bodo people have become a minority. Large scale exodus has left only five families there. So the festival has lost its glory in the last few years which was observed by the other communities there. So they came to assist and cooperate with them this year which invigorated the festival this time.
The history of Bagheswari temple at Baghbar goes back to the rule of Kachari King Arimatta as he is said to be the founder of this temple. Since then prayer have been performed by the devotees on an ominous day in the month of Bohag in the Assamese almanac. The local people informed that though the king donated a wide plot of land for this temple most of the areas have been encroached by unscrupulous elements leaving only a few yards for the devotees.
BARPETA May 3 - People of Baghbar area in Barpeta district today performed the age-old Bagheswari puja at the historic Bagheswari temple there with devotion. People cutting across religious and caste lines participated in the festival with enthusiasm.
A large gathering was seen in front of the temple situated on the foothills of Baghbar hill and offered mother Bagheswari coins and other materials. They lit earthen lamps and incense sticks and prayed for the wellbeing of the human kind. Some offered pairs of pigeons to satisfy the Goddess. Bagrumba dance by a folk of Bodo young girls continued during the puja.
Though the festival was limited to Bodo people of that locality, a large number of non-tribal people living in that area participated this year as a mark of solidarity. Once inhabiting in a large area in Baghbar, Bodo people have become a minority. Large scale exodus has left only five families there. So the festival has lost its glory in the last few years which was observed by the other communities there. So they came to assist and cooperate with them this year which invigorated the festival this time.
The history of Bagheswari temple at Baghbar goes back to the rule of Kachari King Arimatta as he is said to be the founder of this temple. Since then prayer have been performed by the devotees on an ominous day in the month of Bohag in the Assamese almanac. The local people informed that though the king donated a wide plot of land for this temple most of the areas have been encroached by unscrupulous elements leaving only a few yards for the devotees.
