The Sanaton community across Bangladesh celebrated Kumari Puja on Maha Ashtami Tuesday, worshipping goddess Durga in her virgin form, represented by a pure-hearted young girl, with deep religious devotion. The rituals were observed with fervour not only in the capital but also in towns and villages across the country.

Devotees will mark Moha Nabami on Wednesday, the penultimate day of the five-day Sharodiya Durga Puja festival, with similar religious enthusiasm. Pandals and puja mandaps were thronged with worshippers offering water, clothes, flowers, and gold and silver ornaments at the feet of the Kumari, symbolising purity and the divine feminine power.

Sanaton people of all ages, especially young girls and women dressed in traditional attire, actively participated in the Kumari Puja, one of the most significant rituals of the Sharodiya Durga Puja. The ceremony honours Durga’s virgin form and underscores themes of purity, strength, and spiritual awakening.

Basu Deb Dhar, President of the Puja Udjapan Parishad, said, “Goddess Durga has been worshipped in various forms, including Kumari, since time immemorial. The large turnout of devotees reflects their deep devotion and reverence for the deity.”

The five-day Durga Puja festivities continue peacefully across the country, amid heightened security at major puja venues in the capital and other districts, ensuring a safe environment for devotees to participate in the celebrations.

Kumari Puja, traditionally performed during Maha Ashtami, is considered a central part of the Sharodiya Durgotsav, highlighting the cultural richness and religious heritage of the Sanaton community, and attracting thousands of worshippers every year.