AGARTALA, Oct 23 (TIWN): Devotion, prayers, and dedication marked the beginning of the auspicious occasion of Maha-Saptami at Durga Bari since Friday morning. Amidst huge enthusiasm and devotion, on the auspicious day of Maha-Saptami, devotees observe rigorous fast and worship Goddess Durga and offered prayers at Durga Bari temple. However, due to COVID-19, this year gathering yet has not been seen in pandals and temples. The weather also remained festive unfavourable as from morning rains started in the state. The religious rituals of Maha Saptami (seventh day on the lunar calendar) began with the bathing of a banana plant in ponds. The plant is treated like a bride, wrapped in a new sari and placed next to the idol of Lord Ganesh, son of Goddess Durga. This plant is called Kalabau' (banana plant bride) - considered the wife of Ganesha. The ritual is called 'Nabapatrika snan-o-sthapan' and many believe this practise is traced to the agrarian society of east India. Security measures have been taken tightly across the state centering Durga puja.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHiWBByzQB0&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2klhk8G42mst44p8BBSWAevYBXquQMcXK8dZ6OhfxbNpU-tE3CeoGFtmU TIWN YouTube Link, Durga Bari Puja

The Nabapatrika (new leaves) consists of nine banana leaves. After the ritual, special worship for Saptami started and devotees on an empty stomach thronged pandals to pray to Durga and offered her 'pushpanjali' (floral offerings to the goddess).

According to Hindu mythology, the festivities and prayers begin with the symbolic arrival of the goddess on earth on the sixth day of the first quarter of the moon and ends on Dashami or the 10th day, which is celebrated across the country as Dussehra.

Traditionally, every pandal has an idol of Goddess Durga depicting her as slaying the demon Mahishasur. She is shown astride a lion and wielding an array of weapons in her 10 arms.