AGARTALA, April 14 (TIWN): On the occasion of Basanti Puja, people also observed Kumari Puja on Thursday.

It is to be mentioned here that the festival of 'Basanti Puja' was celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm.

A special ritual known as 'Kumari Puja' is performed in which a six-year-old girl was worshipped as a living embodiment of goddess 'Kumari Puja' is the tradition of worshipping young pre-pubescent Brahmin girls as manifestations of the divine female energy or Devi in South Asian countries.

With Basanti Puja round the corner, preparations are on in full swing in the city. The artisans all across the state are now having a busy time making clay idols.

According to Mythology, Basanti puja started in prehistoric times when the Indian saints started celebration of the festival in this season for peace.

However, on this occasion Kumari Puja was conducted at Anandmaye Ashram.

The ritual, preparations for which started over two months ago, culminated in the girl being worshiped exactly as the sculpture of goddess on the eighth day or Astami of Basanti puja.

This puja is performed in the month of Chaitra in Bengali calendar which corresponds to March-April of English calendar. Basanti Puja is an age old Bengali festival when Goddess Durga is worshiped by Bengali community where Bengali people reside in large number.

However, Basanti Durga Puja has lost its utmost importance since the time when Lord Rama is believed to have done untimely Durga Puja in autumn, the famous Shardiya Durga Puja, celebrated in the Months of Ashwin or Kartik (September-October) at the same time when Navratri is celebrated in other parts of India.