NALBARI, Oct 1 - After Mahalaya, the 10-day Durga Puja is going on in various parts of Nalbari district since Sunday.
At the historic Bilbeswar Devalaya of Belsor in the district, the 10-day Durga Puja began with religious fervour.
Similarly, Nabaratri Durga Puja also began at Barkshetri Nabaratri Durga Mandir since Sunday.
The Bagals Road Chowk community Durga Puja has been celebrating its golden jubilee year. The organising committee has chalked out a 10-day programme to mark the occasion.
On the other hand, puja festivities has gripped entire Nalbari district. More than 150 community puja pandals have been erected for the annual autumn fest.
All the puja pandals have been tastefully decorated in order to attract the hordes of puja revellers. Though the weather condition is not favourable due to incessant drizzle, still the puja committees have been working day and night to make their pandals and idols attractive for the visitors.
In Bilbeswar Devalaya, thousands of devotees almost always throng Navami Puja to witness buffalo sacrifice. Despite opposition from animal-loving organisations, about 40 buffalos will be sacrificed this year too.
Kumari Puja will be performed at Adattari near Mukalmua in Nalbari district on Navami Puja day as part of the nine-day Nabaratri Durga Puja being celebrated at Adattari.
On the occasion of Kumari Puja, nine minor girls of the locality will be decorated as childhood replica of Devi Durga and will be subsequently worshipped with mandatory rituals. The nine minor girls were worshiped as nine forms of Devi Durga.
They are Sailyaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandaghanta, Kusmanda, Scondamata, Katyani, Kalratri, Mahagauri and Sidhidatri.
The people throng the venue of Adattari Durga Puja and donate dresses, ornaments and fruits and pray to get the desired results.
The Barkshetri Nabaratri Durga Puja of Adattari completed 50 years in 2016. It goes without saying that Kumari Puja of Adattari every year draws huge crowds from various parts of the state.
In the meantime, preparations for the 519-year-old historic Durga Puja of Barnardi village in Nalbari district is going on in ful swing.
The Barnardi Durga Puja is considered one of the oldest pujas in the state, which, incidentally does not display clay idols.
According to recorded history, Barnardi Durga Puja began during the Ahom rule and is considered as one of the oldest pujas in the state. Though human sacrifice was the norm once upon a time in the Barnardi Durga Puja, but today any form of animal sacrifice is totally banned.
The devotees here release the animals after being worshipped before the Devi. A significant thing about this Durga Puja is that the villagers do not collect donations with receipt books. Spontaneous donation offered by the devotees is the main capital of this puja.
The royal tradition of the Barnardi Durga Puja attracts huge crowds from various parts of the state during the festival days.
The Nalbari district administration too has adopted some special measures in order to ensure that the Durga Puja passes off in a peaceful and hassle-free manner. The Deputy Commissioner met the puja committees of the district and set some guidelines for smooth and peaceful celebration.
