DURGA PUJA

475-yr Baro Devi immersed in Jamuna Dighi

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 9: The four-day puja is now over. Following all traditional rituals of the Raj-days, the huge clay idol of Baro Devi was sliced into pieces and immersed in the water of Jamuna Dighi (also known as Lamba Dighi) in Cooch Behar on Thursday morning.

 

Before the immersion took place, Yatra-puja was performed as was done on earlier years. Sacrifice (Bali) of a pig, a fish and a pumpkin were also performed on the bank of Jamuna Dighi. Hundreds of devotees and onlookers gathered at Devibari to witness the immersion ceremony. A large contingent of police force was deployed at the area to maintain peace.

 

Soon after the immersion a number of people jumped into the water of Jamuna Dighi to collect remains of the idol. Those who were able to get something proudly announced that they were lucky enough. It is largely believed that these mementoes have divine power and it is good to keep these in residences for the well being of family members.

 

It may be mentioned here that Baro Devi is a special form of Goddess Durga worshiped by the Cooch Behar royal family. Maharaja Nara Narayan initiated the puja dated back in 1533, as the saying goes. According to traditional rituals the idol of Baro Devi is sliced into pieces and immersed into Jamuna Dighi near the Baro Devi Temple at Devibari once the three-day worship is over.

 

In those Raj-days the Maharaja sitting on the royal elephant (Paat-hasti) used to set a Khanjan (wagtail) bird free on Bijoya Dashami during Yatra-puja ritual. According to the sayings, the Maharajas of Cooch Behar had to start for conquering new regions following the flight-route of the bird. []

FIRE

Shops gutted in fire on Mahanavami night

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 8: Seven shops gutted completely and a few others were damaged in a devastating fire that broke out on the bank of Chandandighi along Sunity Road in Cooch Behar at about 10-15 p.m. on Wednesday night. Four fire engines rushed to the spot to douse the blaze. A bulldozer was also deployed to dismantle some shops to prevent the fire from spreading. The fire fighters were able to control the blaze after about one-and-half-hour of fight. The actual cause of the fire and the total loss of property are yet to be ascertained.

 

As the town was in a festive mood on Mahanavami night the streets were full of crowd. As a safety measure the authorities concerned stopped power supply in the area and the panic stricken people had to face a tough time to pass through the area. Police cordoned off the area along Sunity Road to help the fire fighters doing their duty.

PUJA IN DINHATA & COOCHBEHAR

PUJA

PUJA

PUJA

Sacrifice at Baro Devi  puja in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 7: Hundreds of devotees witnessed the sacrifice of buffalo, goats and pigeons that were offered to the Baro Devi at the Debibari temple in Cooch Behar on the occasion of Mahastami, today.

 

Baro Devi is a special form of Goddess Durga worshiped by the Cooch Behar royal family. The idol is totally different from other models of Devi Durga. It was learnt that Maharaja Nara Narayan initiated the puja in 1533 AD. According to sayings, the Mararaja saw the Devi in this form in his dream. He introduced the puja of Baro Devi and the clay-image was made following his description as he saw the Goddess in his dream. Till now the image is identical to the first one to keep the tradition alive. As a hereditary act, Punyeswar Chitrakar of Chitrakar family of Dodeyarpar was entrusted to make the idol this year.

 

The puja of Baro Devi is performed under Cooch Behar Debottar Trust Board, the guardian body of all temples and religious places of erstwhile Cooch Behar State. The DTB is running under the state tourism department.

 

The tradition of human sacrifice (Nara-Boli) is still on at the puja of Baro Devi of Cooch Behar. Since human sacrifice is not possible these days, that tradition is maintained symbolically by sacrificing a human image made of rice-powder on the Maha-Astami night during Gupta-puja (secret worship). Human blood is needed to perform the Gupta-puja. A man from Roy family of Kaljani village supplies the blood by piercing his fingers as a hereditary act. The Cooch Behar Debottar Trust Board pays him for the act.

 

It is said that human sacrifice was a reality at the regime of Maharaja Nara Narayan. Once he reportedly sacrificed 150 persons to Baro Devi and for that act he had earned fame in those days. Later, the system became discontinued, but the tradition of human sacrifice is still followed by symbolic sacrifice.

 

Sacrifice is a major part of the Baro Devi puja. Goats, buffaloes, hogs and numerous pigeons are sacrificed here. Sacrifice of hog is a speciality of Baro Devi puja, which is done during Chaliya-Bariya puja ritual.  

 

Though Raj-days gone, the rituals and systems for performance of the Baro Devi puja and the construction of the clay-image are almost similar to the earlier days, under the Marxist rule too. The Debottar Trust Board, running under state government patronage, is very much cautious in keeping all the traditional rituals on as-is-where-is basis.

 

The puja of Baro Devi ends on Maha-Navami. The large image is sliced into pieces and immersed at Jamuna (Lamba) Dighi. In those Raj-days the Maharaja, sitting on the royal elephant, had to set a Khanjan (wagtail) bird free on Bijoya Dashami during Yatra-puja ritual. The last time a Khanjan was set free in 1969.

 

A fair is also organised during the puja days encircling the age old Baro Devi temple at Debi Bari in Cooch Behar. Numerous devotees and puja viewers from distant places come to witness the puja and offer anjali to the Baro Devi. Visiting and offering of pranam to the Devi is a must for all devotees and pandal hoppers. []

DURGA PUJA

 

PHOTO (1) : Puja of Mahamaya Pat at Dinhata in Cooch Behar. 

PHOTO (2) : Durga made of cane sticks at Gopalnagar (Dakshin) in Dinhata of Cooch Behar.

COOCHBEHAR NEWS

 

Doctor manhandled

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 6: A doctor of MJN Hospital was manhandled following death of a woman last night. A complained was lodged with the police and police started a probe into the incident. The woman's body was sent for post-mortem.

 

It was learnt that a housewife, Mridula Saha (44), a resident of Nishiganj in Cooch Behar, was brought to the MJN Hospital last evening following an incident of snakebite. At first she was sent to Nishiganj health centre and later shifted to MJN Hospital after primary medical treatment. The doctor concerned allegedly instructed removing of the knots that were tied immediately after the snakebite. The men that came with the woman alleged that the patient died following removal of the knots. During a dispute they allegedly manhandled the doctor. Complaints were submitted from both sides to the hospital superintendent and the police. []

 

Trinamul-CPM clash : Bandh

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 6: A bandh was observed at Suktabari in Cooch Behar today following last night's clash between the supporters of the Trinamul Congress and the CPI-M. Ten persons were injured in that clash. A one-hour roadblock was also staged at Suktabari today in connection with the incident. It was learnt that the supporters of the Trinamul Congress and the CPI-M clashed with each other in connection with the election of the managing committee of a local school. []

AGITATION

Trainee teachers' agitation

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 3: Members of All Bengal Primary Teachers Trainee Association (ABPTTA) resisted the chairman of the District primary School Council, other officials and employees from entering the DPSC office in Cooch Behar today. The office failed to function normally due to the agitation. Later, after a tripartite meeting held among the Cooch Behar Sadar SDO, DPSC chairman and ABPTTA leaders the agitation was lifted.

 

The agitated ABPTTA members said they organised today's programme demanding appointment of trained candidates in all vacant posts of primary teachers in different primary schools. They also demanded assurance of appointment of all trained teachers and starting of new academic session in the Primary Teachers Training Institutes. []

 

Agitation at airport

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 3: Agitated locals whose lands were acquired for expansion of the runway of the Cooch Behar Airport halted the boundary wall construction work of the airport today. The officials of the Airport Authority of India in Cooch Behar reported the matter to the district magistrate seeking his intervention. The locals were demanding adequate compensation and a thoroughfare for their easy frequenting to their residences in the area concerned. []

POLITICS !

CPM-Trinamul clash, 10 hurt, house blazed

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 1: Following a widespread violence between Trinamul Congress and CPI-M supporters ten persons were injured and three dwellings were blazed at Baro-kawerdera village under Pachagarh gram panchayat area in Mathabhanga at the early hours of today. The two warring groups lodged two separate cases against each other but no arrest was done till Wednesday afternoon. A police picket was posted at the area to avert fresh violence.

 

It was learnt that there was a longstanding dispute between CPI-M and Trinamul Congress supporters over pisciculture in the local Elongmari canal. Pisciculture in the canal has been disturbing cultivation of paddy in the adjacent areas. Yesterday, a conciliatory meeting was also held but that failed to douse the dispute between the CPI-M and the Trinamul Congress supporters because the CPI-M men are involved in the pisciculture in the canal.

 

The dispute turned violent when some angry locals set fire to three residences of Trinamul Congress supporters at the early hours of today. A house was badly damaged in that blaze. Soon after that incident some Trinamul supporters retaliated by attacking a local CPI-M activist's house. About ten persons were injured in the melee. Seven of the injured were sent to Mathabhanga sub-divisional hospital. As condition of two CPI-M supporters turned critical they were shifted to MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar.

 

Mathabhanga SDPO Mr Ananda Roy rushed to the troubled village with a large contingent of police to control the situation. He said the situation is now peaceful and police patrolling is on to maintain peace. Two cases were lodged from both sides but no arrest was possible till now as the accused have absconded, he added. []