GAURIPUR, Oct 20 - The 400-year-old historic Durga puja at the famous Mahamaya temple of Bagribari situated in the Parbatjhora subdivision under BTAD began on Monday last with all traditional rituals.
This puja is supposed to have been performed from the time of the zamindars of the erstwhile Bagribari Royal Estate.
After welcoming the goddess Durga on the auspicious Sasthi tithi on October 19 last, the Saptami Puja was performed today amidst thousands of devotees assembled on the hill top of the temple complex.
According to legends, Durga Puja here began 400 years ago under the patronage of the then zamindar Hatibar Choudhury. From that time onwards, puja has been celebrated observing age-old rituals. The highlights of the royal puja are �Chandipath�, offering of �billapatra numbering 1000�, �Batuk puja� and �hom janjya�. Besides these rituals, puja is also performed before the God Pagla Baba, Padmakali and five deities. Hundreds of goats, pigeons etc., are also sacrificed. It may be mentioned here that �Bhog prasad� of several quintals of rice was also distributed among the devotees. On �Maha Ashtami�, a number of animals including buffaloes are expected to be sacrificed.
