Biharis give girl child her due

BANGALORE: Platters full of sweets, people dressed in colourful attire and aroma of incense sticks mark one of the grandest festivals of Bihar, Durga Pooja. Although away from home, the festival is celebrated with the same pomp and fervour by the Bihari community in Bangalore.
"The grandest part of the pooja is held on Mahanavami. On this day, as many as 108 girl children below the age of nine are revered and offered food.This ritual signifies that Ma Durga resides in all girl children," says Arun Jha, convenor, Bihar Bhavan, a Bihari association in RT Nagar.
For the community, the festival kickstarted on October 5 itself. "We started the pooja on Saturday. This day is marked with kalash sthapana and barley seeds are sown in an earthen pot put over the kalash. We start by worshipping Lord Shiva. According to mythologies, it is Shiva who is responsible for Ma Durga's existence. The seeds are watered every day and then harvested on the tenth day to be distributed as prasadam," informed Arun.
The real celebration though begins on the seventh day of the festival, called Saptami. On this day, the eyes of the goddess are unfolded and she is believed to have arrived. "According to rituals, we cannot see Ma Durga till the sixth day. On the seventh day, devotees who have kept fast, unfold her eyes. The idol is installed and five kids are fed," says Arun.
The eighth day or 'ashtami' begins with Maha Nisha Pooja that starts at 11.30pm and continues till 3am. Amidst chanting of hymns by 11 priests, the pooja concludes with 'aarati' for the day.
The last day of Dasara is marked by huge processions. "There are around five to six lakh Biharis in Bangalore and over 50 such pandals are put up across the city. From our association itself, over 5,000 people take part in the procession on the last day," says Arun.
WHAT'S ON AT BIHAR BHAVAN
* Ramayan and bhajans by Parmanand Sharma and group, from Oct 5-10
* Bhajan Sandhya" by Niranjan Sarda 7-10pm on Oct 12
* Variety programmes by playback singer Raghupati Jha and kids, 8 pm, Oct 13
* Several rituals and pooja, daily prasad at 10.30am and 8.30pm
* Visarjan (procession and immersion at Ulsoor Lake) on Vijayadashami (October 14).
* Bilva Amantran on the evening of Khashthi (October 10).
* Pratima Pratishthapan (Idol installation) on the forenoon of, Saptami (October 11).
* Mahanisha Pooja and Havan just before midnight Ashtami (October 11).
* Kumari Poojan, (reverence to 108 girl children) on Mhanavami (October 13).
* Daily Aarati and Prasad 10.30am and 8.30pm
PANDALS GALORE
Vishal Ma Durga Samiti - Pandal near Manyata Tech Park, Kempapura.
Sri Sri 108 Mithila Sanskriti Samiti - Pandal near Mahavir Jain Hospital, Vasant Nagar
Sri Satyanarayan Sanskriti Samiti - Pandal in Goreguntepalya, near Yeswanthpur