Durga Puja: Bengalis celebrate ‘Mahasaptami’ with customary ceremonies, revelers with close friends
West Bengal on Tuesday soak in the festive spirit of Durga Puja on ‘Mahasaptami’ day, when devotees start the day with traditional rituals and explorers create an opportunity for popular parades across the state.
From early in the morning, banana trees – ‘Nabapatrika’ (representing Lord Ganesha’s wife) – were taken for a ceremonial dip into the waters, of which the most popular was the Ganga River.
Worshipers then offered ‘Pushpanjali’ (pattern) to Goddess Durga while chanting ‘mantra’ (hymn).
However, COVID-19 Protocols were rolled out in most locations, as people were seen gathering Durga puja vandals in the city and vicinity of Salt Lake, removing their sports masks and maintaining Limit social contact.
The West Bengal government recently issued an advisory, asking revelers to maintain health and safety guidelines to prevent a rise in Covid cases.
A Durga Puja vandal ready to worship, in Kolkata. (Photo PTI / Swapan Mahapatra)
Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has established a number of community followers Durga Puja in the past few days, has also urged people to wear masks.
The Calcutta High Court has ordered that all Durga Puja vandals in West Bengal be made public restricted areas, as was designated last year, to limit the spread of the virus. COVID-19 due to crowding.
This year, the court allowed puja ceremonies such as ‘Anjali’, ‘Arati’ and ‘Sindur Khela ‘inside the tavern, and directed that the easing would be subject to limits on the maximum number of people allowed and compliance with conditions such as double vaccinations and wearing of masks.
Most of the Durga Puja organizers planned their rallies under a high court order last year, so that visitors could view the idols and artworks from afar.
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