Kolkata, Nov. 9 -- While Durga Puja ended over a fortnight ago for most, the festivities came to an end only on Monday for a family at Randiah in Budbud, East Burdwan, which had continued its puja from Panchami until the final immersion on Monday.
The family continued worshipping the Durga idol through the intervening days. On Kali Puja, both Maa Durga and Maa Kali are worshipped before the idols are finally immersed. The Chatterjee, Bhattacharya, Mukherjee and Banerjee families have kept this unique tradition alive for over a century.
The tradition dates back to nearly a century ago, when fireworks accidentally fell on the Durga idols, making it impossible to lift them for immersion. Since then, the family has continued the daily worship until Kali Puja, when both the Durga and Kali idols are immersed together, said family member Debashis Chatterjee.
He said the practice of worshipping Ma Durga until Kali Puja continued from then on, and the family has been following the tradition for over a century. The idols are worshipped with much pomp even after Dashami, he added.
This year's Puja began on October 15 and concluded on Monday. "It involves considerable expenditure, so all family members contribute towards meeting the expenses," he said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.