Kumari Puja observed

Hindu devotees observed “Kumari Puja” on the Maha Ashtami of the Durga Puja across the country yesterday.

The main attraction of the day was Kumari Puja where a pre-pubescent girl is worshiped as “Mother Goddess”.

Thousands of Hindu devotees thronged Puja Mandaps throughout the country to celebrate in the morning. The celebrations marked the triumph of good over evil.

The worshipped girl symbolises the power that regulates creation, stability, and destruction on earth. The goddess is bathed symbolically and dressed for the final battle.

In old days, a buffalo was offered as sacrifice to the goddess. These days, bananas, pumpkins, and cucumbers replaced the animal.

Meanwhile, Hindus celebrated the Maha Saptami on Saturday, second day of the five-day Durga Puja.

Draped in new dresses, a large number of devotees irrespective of ages offered prayers before the Durga, seeking divine blessings for peace, prosperity, and welfare of the country and its people.

According to the Hindu religious belief, the world was under threat from demon king Mahishasura, that no man or god could defeat.

To vanquish the demon, Durga emerged from the collective energies of all the gods. Each of her ten arms brandished the deadliest weapon of gods.

On the seventh day (Mahasaptami) of Durga Puja, the goddess started her epic battle against Mahishasura which ended with his death on Bijaya Dashami (the 10th day).