Maynaguri, Oct. 8 -- For 216 years, the Basunia family of Amguri in Jalpaiguri's Maynaguri has worshipped Goddess Durga in a form that is distinctly different from conventional idols. Revered as 'Debi Thakurani', the Goddess is portrayed as an ordinary Rajbanshi village homemaker, making the family's Puja one of the oldest and most distinctive pujas in the Dooars.

According to the family, the tradition dates back to 1810, when Cooch Behar King Pran Narayan was travelling from Rangpur towards Cooch Behar with a Durga idol.

A severe natural calamity forced him to halt at the then Chapgarh Pargana, now Chapgarh under Amguri Gram Panchayat.

Dhanbar Basunia, a local resident and an accountant at the royal court, offered the king shelter at his home. As the weather worsened, the king left the Durga idol there and performed the Puja, while Ghata Puja was held at the royal palace. The family believes this marked the beginning of its Durga Puja.

Another popular account says Dhanbar, who had earlier lived in Cooch Behar, was expelled after being caught secretly watching the royal Durga Puja. He later settled in Amguri and started the worship, retaining the complexion of the palace deity in his idol.

The Goddess's appearance remains the Puja's biggest attraction. The 10-armed idol has a reddish complexion and distinct Mongoloid features. Instead of elaborate ornaments, she wears a simple handloom sari, with the sari lifted above the ankles in the traditional style of Rajbanshi women working in paddy fields. She also wears 'Sheyara', the traditional crown of Rajbanshi brides. The rituals begin with the 'Kada Khela' or 'Dadhikado' festival on Janmashtami. The clay used in the ritual is later used to make the idol.

Family head Sunil Basunia said: "Dhanbar had witnessed the Durga Puja at the Cooch Behar royal palace. Perhaps that is why he retained the complexion of the palace deity. However, he himself decided to give Debi Thakurani the appearance of a village bride." Following Rajbanshi customs, Shiva, locally known as 'Gram Thakur', is worshipped first.

On Dashami, the idol is bid farewell through rituals but is not immersed. Instead, the plough is used to cultivate the family's agricultural land two-and-a-half rounds.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.