By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong which is celebrating its 63rd Durga Puja, observed a unique “Kumari Puja” – the tradition of worshiping Goddess Durga in the form of a girl child on the occasion of Maha Asthami on Tuesday.
As per tradition, Goddess Durga is worshipped in various forms, one of those forms is “Kumari”, the virgin form.
It is believed that all females are some forms of Goddess Durga and on this occasion, a girl under the age of 12 is worshipped as Maa Durga.
Swami Vivekananda introduced this ancient tradition of “Kumari Puja” in Belur Math, Headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and Mission in 1901, and since then it is being followed in every centers of Ramakrishna Mission where Durga Puja is observed.
Swami Vivekananda also founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.The Kumari Puja is attracting a huge crowd over the years here in Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong.
This year too, amidst huge crowd the puja started at 9:30am. Brahmachari Kalika Chaitanya from Ramakrishna Mission, Ranchi performed the puja which was attended by Deputy Chief Minister, Meghalaya, BM Lanong, Chief Adviser, Government of Meghalaya DD Lapang, MLA, 21st Mawprem ConstituencyManas Chaudhuri, Director, RGIIM, Shillong Prof Ashoke K Dutta, alongside other eminent personalities from different fields from the town.