KOLKATA: The organisers of a community Durga Puja in north Kolkata chose to organise one of its most auspicious ceremonies - Khuti Puja - on Eid-al-Adha, also holding a symbolic Kumari Puja with a six-year-old Muslim girl, decked up in traditional red Banarasi sari, a tiara of flowers and traditional jewellery.
Khuti Puja marks the ceremonial start to Durga Puja preparations, when work on building the pandal starts, at least symbolically. It's a major day in the annual fixture of puja organisers, who usually choose an auspicious day to hold it. Popular choices for Khuti Puja are Rath Yatra or Ulta-Rath (the return Rath festival). But the Eid choice is possibly unprecedented.
Baranagar Friends Association, the organisers of Thursday's ceremony, say their choice - of day and the girl, Rimsha - was very much on purpose, in order to blur religious divides in these trying times. Ajoy Ghosh, president of the association, who had mooted the idea of holding the Khuti Puja on Eid and inviting Muslim friends from the neighbourhood, said it was to propagate communal harmony at a time when certain sections were trying to create rifts in society along religious lines.
"The incidents of people inciting violence during Ram Navami forced us to think differently," said Ghosh, who is helming the puja in its 75th year. He is also president of the new Cossipore Club Samannya Samity, chaired by minister Sashi Panja.
The Nainan neighbourhood in Sinthi, where Thursday's function was organised, saw participation from people from all communities, including a number of Muslims, dressed in Eid finery. But it was Rimsha, daughter of Nadim Ali, who stole the limelight. Her feet and palms painted with alta, she sat decked up in sari and jewellery, gleefully lapping up the attention. At the symbolic Kumari Puja at the nearby Shree Shree Kashishwar Shiv Mandir, priests worshipped her as an incarnation of the Goddess Durga.
"A couple of days ago, Ghosh approached me with the proposal. I was overwhelmed," said Ali, 35, who has a tailoring shop in Sinthee. His wife, Sanjida, was also delighted at the honour bestowed on the family. "It was a busy day for me because it was Eid-al-Adha. There were friends and relatives visiting us to attend a feast. I somehow managed to attend the programme at the temple in the afternoon," the homemaker recounted.
Pandal decor to focus on harmony Nadim Ali, whose daughter, Rimsha, was worshipped as an incarnation of Goddess Durga during Kumari Puja, organized during Khuti Puja of Baranagar Friends Association on Thursday, attended namaz at the nearby Baishak Bagan Jama Masjid in Cossipore before heading for Khuti Puja. "In the evening, we will visit friends' homes for Eid. They are all happy with the organisers' gesture," added Ali.
Over half the invitees at the Khuti Puja were from the local Muslim community, many of them Ali's friends. Even the priest, who conducted the Kumari Puja, was happy to be associated with the unique endeavour. "This is the first time I have witnessed such an amazing celebration of humanity," said Soumik Chatterjee, head priest of the Shiva temple.
"Eid-al-Adha celebrates the values of devotion, sacrifice and brotherhood, and it is a reminder of the importance of living a life of faith and service," added Ghosh.
This year, the organisers have increased budget from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. The pandal decoration will reflect peace and harmony. Saswata Basu, general secretary of Forum for Durgotsab, also praised the effort.
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