Bangladesh celebrates 'Kumari Puja' (Lead)

Dhaka, Oct 7 (IANS) Hindu devotees in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka observed 'Kumari Puja', where a pre-pubescent girl is worshiped as "Mother Goddess", as part of the ongoing Durga Puja celebrations.'Kumari Puja' was observed on Sunday on 'Maha Ashtami' or the eighth day of Durga Puja, reports The Daily Star newspaper.The worshipped girl symbolises the power that regulates creation, stability, and destruction on earth. The Hindu scripture allows a girl aged between one to 16 to participate in the 'Kumari Puja'Earlier, a buffalo used to be offered as sacrifice to the Goddess. But nowadays, bananas, pumpkins and cucumbers have replaced the animals.This year, Durga Puja was being celebrated at about 32,0000 pavilions across Bangladesh including 237 in Dhaka.President Abdul Hamid also visited few pavilions in Dhaka on Friday.The five-day festival will culminate on Tuesday with the immersion of the idols.
--IANS ksk