Mahanabami is marked by the usual puja offerings. The goddess resides in her grandeur and devotees flock in to see her from all parts of the city.
Mahanabami at the Daw household is celebrated by performing the 'Kumari Pujo'. The concept of Kumari Pujo was to welcome the daughter 'Durga' who comes to visit her parents house with her children annually. The Kumari is the most powerful form of Mahashakti and the basis of creation. A girl aged between one to sixteen, symbolizing the Kumari form of Devi is worshipped in front of the idol of Goddess Durga. The purpose of this for of worship is to evolve the purity and divinity of the women of the society. Diminishing the larger than life stature of the Goddess to someone much nearer and closer is the real reason for this form of worship.
Mahanabami at the Daw household is celebrated by performing the 'Kumari Pujo'. The concept of Kumari Pujo was to welcome the daughter 'Durga' who comes to visit her parents house with her children annually. The Kumari is the most powerful form of Mahashakti and the basis of creation. A girl aged between one to sixteen, symbolizing the Kumari form of Devi is worshipped in front of the idol of Goddess Durga. The purpose of this for of worship is to evolve the purity and divinity of the women of the society. Diminishing the larger than life stature of the Goddess to someone much nearer and closer is the real reason for this form of worship.
In the dawn of Nabami, the Kumari is bathed in Ganga water and is clad in a new red bordered saari, symbolizing a married woman. She is then adorned with flowers and jewelry, alta is applied to her feet and a 'tilak' of sindur on her forehead. She is made to sit before the goddess and a flower from the Devi's hand is placed in her hand. Placed before her are flowers, bel (wood apple) leaves, incense sticks, lamps, 'Noibeddyo' and other things required for puja. The purohit then chants the mantras and the sound of dhaak fill the atmosphere. The lady of the house who does the 'Samkalpa' for the pujo offers pujo separately and ahead of the others. After the puja the divinity of the Goddess Durga is said to be seen in the girl. It is customary to gift the girl and to take her blessings.
The last ritual of Mahanabami is the yagna or 'Hom' that is performed by burning wood with ghee as an offering to the goddess. Following this, the members of the family have 'Maach bhaat' after observing strict vegetarianism from the day of Bodhon to this day.