Divided by border, united in prayer
Every year on the occasion of Brideshwari Puja, a fair is organised in a bordering area of India and Bangladesh, in the presence of thousands of people from both countries.
A festival and reunion unlike any other, citizens of both countries worship and pray together in a temple during the occasion, exchanging greetings and feeding each other the offerings.
This is a common scene every year on the border of Dighaltari of Lalmonirhat's Durgapur Union and Gidaldah Daribas of Dinhata Police Station of West Bengal's Cooch Behar district.
Following the yearly tradition, this year it was held yesterday, where strict security was ensured by both BGB and BSF.
Prashanta Sen of Senpara village in Lalmonirhat Sadar told this correspondent that he goes to Shri Shri Bridveshwari Devi temple on the border with his family every year.
"We took a boat and crossed Dharla river to participate in the puja. Around 400-500 devotees from Bangladesh participated," he said.
"Our relatives from the other side of the border also came. The temple falls on the Indian side and the Puja is mostly organised by them," he added.
Seventy-year-old Nani Bala of Dighaltari village said, "We prayed and ate the prasad. I got to see my relatives from India. However, we had to leave the temple before 4:00pm under the close watch of BGB and BSF."
Bimala Rani (50), a visitor from Gidaldah area of India's Cooch Behar, said, "This is the only time of the year when we get to see the family members from Bangladesh. We wait for the occasion throughout the year."
Dhiren Chandra Roy, a member of the temple committee, said, "BSF members and the puja committee keep a strict vigil to ensure that the puja is completed peacefully."
"We receive donations for the temple from Bangladeshi citizens as well. It is not only a place of worship, but also of reunion," he added.
Chairman of Lalmonirhat's Durgapur Union Parishad Asaduzzaman said, "There were no obstacles to participating. All the Bangladeshis who participated in the fair returned peacefully after the completion of the rituals."
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