Bhubaneswar: During Navratri of Dussehra, Goddess Durga is worshipped in 9 different incarnations. In some places of Odisha, Devi is worshipped in the form of unmarried girl, which is called ‘Kumari Puja’.
A puja committee in Keonjhar made elaborate arrangements for the Kumari Puja with participation of the local people and their children on Navami, the 9th day of Navratri.
As per the custom, the children were dressed up in 9 different forms of Goddess Durga with all traditional makes-ups by their families and brought to the pandal. They were taken from their parents and respectfully seated on a heightened platform, specially prepared for the occasion, to enable the devotees to witness the puja.
The priests performed all the rituals that are done for the Goddess before the children. Those included applying ‘sindoor’ (vermilion) of brilliant red colour on their foreheads, putting garlands, puspanjali (flower offering), arati with lamps lighted by pure ghee and incense sticks.
The rituals were performed amid chanting of slokas (hymns), beating of cymbals and blowing of conches. At the end of all these, the priests bowed before the children and sought their blessings, which is considered a rare practice in Hindu tradition. The devotees also offered prayer to the Kumaris seeking their blessings.
Finally, the child incarnations of Devi were offered prasad which was also prepared exclusively by strictly following all the sacred processes. The devotees presented their gifts to child Goddesses on the occasion.
