STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The historic Kamkhaya Temple, atop Nilachal hills in Guwahati, is organizing Durga Puja on the temple premises like every year, but the traditions here differ from the usual Durga Puja celebrations. There are no idols of Durga to be seen.
Instead of idols, minor girls not attaining puberty are worshipped, as the tradition of Kumari Puja is continued in the Kamakhya Temple.
Nine incarnations of the Mother Goddess are worshipped during the nine days of Navratri, and in the Kamakhya Temple, young girls are worshipped as the representation of the incarnations.
On the first day of Navratri, only one girl is selected by the priests, and she is worshipped. On the second day, two girls are selected and worshipped. Similarly, on the third day, three girls are worshipped, and on the ninth day, the priests select nine girls representing nine incarnations and worship them. The nine incarnations of the goddess are Maa Shailputri, Maa Brahmacharini, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmanda, Maa Skandamata, Maa Katyayani, Maa Kalaratri, Maa Mahagauri, and Maa Siddhidatri.
A priest of Kamakhya temple said that the Durga Puja at Kamakhya temple is being celebrated with a different fervour. "We have performed the rituals at the temple. Kumari Puja is performed from the first day after the Navaratri and will be continued till Navami," he said.
"We celebrate Durga Puja here for 15 days, from Krishna Navami to Sukla Navami. We also perform Kanya Puja (Kumari Puja) here during Navratri, from Pratipada to Navami Tithi. The most remarkable aspect of the puja is that there is no idol or image of Goddess Durga," added the chief priest of the Kamakhya Temple, Kabindra Prasad Sarma.
Another key point about the celebration of Durga Puja in the Kamakhya Temple is the offering of sacrifices. It was stated that four sacrifices will be offered by the temple management to the goddess, including one each on Saptami (the seventh day) and Navami (the ninth day) and two on Asthami, or the eighth day.
On the eighth day, one sacrifice will be made during the day, while the second will be done at night. Other sacrifices will also be made by the devotees visiting the temple during the festival.
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