Kolkata: Devotees converged at the Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, for Kumari Puja, the worship of a girl, as the Durga Puja festival reached its climax in West Bengal with Mahashtami and Mahanavami merging yesterday.
The usually five-day-long carnival, shortened to a four-day affair this year as decreed by the almanac, is being celebrated across the state with everyone joining in with enthusiasm and religious fervour.
Mahashtami ended last noon and the Mahanavami puja began after the end of Sandhi Puja held at the confluence of Mahashtami (eighth lunar day) and Mahanavami (ninth lunar day). Mahanavami will end this morning.
An ambience of merriment prevailed over the entire city as devotees dressed in their best made floral offerings to the deity Durga amid beating of drums and chiming of bells.
The rituals began in the morning with Kumari Puja, in which girls are worshipped as deities.
Kumari Puja was started by Swami Vivekananda in 1901 to underline the importance of women in society.
IANS
