Malda, Oct. 12 -- The kings are gone, the royal palace has been sold, and the grandeur of a bygone era has faded. Yet, at Paharpur near Chanchal, faith continues to sustain a Durga Puja that has survived for more than 375 years. With the royal family no longer at the helm and financial resources dwindling, local residents have stepped in to keep the historic Chanchal Rajbari Puja alive.
The annual worship began on the auspicious occasion of Krishna Navami, 14 days ahead of the usual festive celebrations. At the Chandimandap in Paharpur, around two kilometre from Chanchal, priests performed the traditional rituals, marking the beginning of another year of devotion and continuity.
The Puja commenced with the collection of holy water in a copper pot from Sati Ghat on the Mara-mahananda riverbed, followed by the installation of the sacred ghat. Priests Soumitra Chakraborty, Achin Mishra, Titu Bandyopadhyay and Surajit Bandyopadhyay conducted the preliminary rituals.
The idol of the four-armed, lion-riding Goddess will be brought to the Chandimandap on 'shashthi' from Chanchal Rajbari in full grandeur. Until then, daily worship will continue, accompanied by evening Chandipath. The recitation will continue from 'shashthi' to 'Dashami', before the immersion of the idol.
According to local tradition, the Puja was initiated by Chanchal's Raja Ramchandra Roy Chowdhury in the late 17th century. Over the centuries, it has become an integral part of the region's cultural identity, with generations preserving its distinctive rituals and customs.
For residents, the Goddess is not merely an object of worship but a guardian of the locality. A huge number of devotees from Chanchal and neighbouring villages visit the Chandimandap every year.
"Though the royal family and its grandeur are no longer there, our faith in the Goddess remains unchanged. We want the tradition to continue for future generations," said Sudarshan Das, president of the Puja committee.
The challenge, however, is financial. The trust board currently allocates only Rs 9,000 for the annual Puja, a modest sum amid rising costs. As a result, residents of Paharpur, Gilabari and neighbouring areas have taken on much of the responsibility, contributing funds and extending their support to ensure that the rituals and festivities continue.
"The Puja belongs to the people of this area. Everyone comes forward in whatever way they can. Without their cooperation, it would be difficult to maintain a tradition that has continued for centuries," Debjoy Bhattacharya, member of the trustee board, said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.