An exemplary fair in Dinhata

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 23: The weeklong "Burir-pater mela" is going on at Putimari in Dinhata. Though the mela (fair) is of seven days it runs for about fifteen days. It started on Maha Saptami (Thursday). Because of this fair the puja mood is still on here.

 

One Asmat Mian Bakshi and two of his Hindu friends – Kedar Nath Ray and Hemananda Bakshi had started the Bana-Durga puja at Putimari in Dinhata, Cooch Behar. It was about 130 years ago. The tradition is still going on with full fervour. A fair is also organised on the occasion. The organisers of the puja and the fair are from both Hindu and Muslim communities. Here, one can learn lessons on communal harmony and tolerance.

 

Locals at Putimari said that at the first year, Asmat Mian Bakshi and his two Hindu friends arranged the puja of ten-handed Devi Durga. But later, as per sayings, the Devi instructed the three friends in their dream to worship Her as Buri-Mata or Bana-Durga. In that year they worshiped Her again on the Ashwin Sankranti (last day of Ashwin month) according to the Devi's instruction. Since then on the puja is performed on every year on Ashwin Sankranti day. This year the puja started on Maha Saptami because it was also the Ashwin Sankranti.

 

The idol of Bana-Durga has no similarity with other known idols of Devi Durga. Here She is like an aged woman holding a lathi (stick) in Her one hand and a little child in Her other hand. The two-handed Devi is found sitting on a lion. Local residents believe that the Devi is very much alive ( Jagrato). The entire area is also named after the Devi as Burir-pat.

 

The Bana-Durga puja is a crowd puller event in Dinhata and adjoining areas. A one-month mela used to be organised in earlier days, but now it is reduced to seven days. Local folk cultures like Kushan-gaan, yatra and Bhawaiya are the main attraction during the mela days. The puja and the mela act as the driving forces to unite Hindus and Muslims, according to local residents. Both Muslims and Hindus take active part with full enthusiasm in organising the puja, they said.

 

The temple of Buri-Mata or Bana-Durga is situated on the earthen Garh of King Kanteswar at Putimari in Dinhata. It is adjacent to Karisal Masjid (mosque) and the Kabar-sthan (cemetery of the Muslims). Successors of late Asmat Mian Bakshi donated the large-sized mela ground at Putimari for organising the puja and fair. Devotees and people of Dinhata believe that the Burir-pat at Putimari may be of immense help to attract tourists to this area, if promoted properly. []