Agartala, Oct 12: Kumari Puja is an age-old ritual that celebrates young girls, particularly pre-pubescent ones, as embodiments of divine feminine energy, or Devi. The practice, deeply rooted in South Asian religious culture, holds immense spiritual significance. The word “Kumari” is derived from Sanskrit, meaning “virgin,” symbolizing the untainted purity and innocence of the chosen girl.

Though its origins stretch back to ancient India, the modern practice of Kumari Puja was revived by Swami Vivekananda, who introduced it at the Belur Math in 1901, thereby cementing its place in the religious customs of the Ramakrishna Mission.

The ritual is a key highlight of the Maha Ashtami festivities during the Durga Puja celebration.

As part of the Durga Puja festivities and in line with the traditions, a 5-year-old girl was worshiped as the living embodiment of Goddess Durga during the ‘Kumari Puja’ ritual organized by the Ramakrishna Mission at Dhaleshwar in Agartala on Friday. The ceremony drew hundreds of devotees, seeking blessings from the young girl revered as a living goddess.

Preparations for this ritual had begun over two months back, with careful attention to tradition. The chosen Kumari, not yet having reached puberty, was selected based on her innocence, purity, and detachment from worldly desires.

On the morning of Maha Ashtami, she was bathed and dressed in a red sari, symbolizing the strength and protection of the goddess Durga. She was adorned with flowers, jewelry, and a sindur tilak on her forehead, marking her as a divine figure.

Throughout the day, the young Kumari fasted, as per custom, and was seated before the idol of Durga on a throne specially decorated for the occasion. Amidst the chants of priests and the rhythmic beats of traditional drums (dhak), a sense of divine energy permeated the gathering.

According to belief, during the puja, the goddess’s spirit enters the Kumari, transforming her into a living embodiment of Durga for the duration of the ritual.

Although Kumari Puja is primarily conducted at the Ramakrishna Mission centers, it is also performed at select Durga Puja pandals across India, symbolizing the respect and reverence accorded to women in Hindu religious tradition. This ritual symbolises the spiritual and cultural importance of honoring young girls as symbols of purity, strength, and potential.

The Kumari Puja in Agartala was a part of the broader Durga Puja celebrations in Tripura, where the festival holds both religious and cultural prominence.

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