The dawn at the Daw household on Saptami is marked by the sound of conch shells and drums as the men of the house walk to the Ganga to bathe the Nobo Potrika or Kolabou as it is popularly known. While the Brahmin carries the Kolabou, the men of the family carry the vessel that holds sacred water from the river, and a durwan carries an ornate embroidered umbrella with silver rod that weighs 80 kilograms, covering the Nobo Potrika and the vessel.
This Nobo Potrika is not a simple bark of a banana plant, but a form of mother nature that is worshipped as another form of Ma Durga and is one of the most primitive forms of worshiping Ma Durga even before idol worship came into existence. Contrary to the popular belief that Nobo Potrika or Kola Bou is the wife of Lord Ganesha, it is another manifestation of Ma Durga herself. The Nabapatrika is an object made of nine plants namely banana, colacassia, turmeric, jayanti, wood apple, pomegranate, aurum, rice, and ashoka tied together with twigs of Aparajita and nine bunches of yellow thread. The nine plants, each represent one form of Ma Durga.
This Nobo Potrika is not a simple bark of a banana plant, but a form of mother nature that is worshipped as another form of Ma Durga and is one of the most primitive forms of worshiping Ma Durga even before idol worship came into existence. Contrary to the popular belief that Nobo Potrika or Kola Bou is the wife of Lord Ganesha, it is another manifestation of Ma Durga herself. The Nabapatrika is an object made of nine plants namely banana, colacassia, turmeric, jayanti, wood apple, pomegranate, aurum, rice, and ashoka tied together with twigs of Aparajita and nine bunches of yellow thread. The nine plants, each represent one form of Ma Durga.
A dip in the Ganges and later the Nobo Potrika is bathed in 8 different types of water and is accompanied with varied mantras and diverse musical instruments for different goddesses. After the bathing ceremony the men bring her back to the house and the women of the house welcome the goddess to the house with the sound of conch shells and with open palms.
She is then adorned in red bordered saari and vermilion is smeared on its leaves, as a mark of a married woman and placed on a decorated pedestal and worshipped with flowers, sandalwood paste and incense sticks. Later she is placed on the right side of Lord Ganesh. This ritual is followed by placing the ghot full of holy water that is worshipped for the next few days. This followed by the usual Soptomi Pujo, Aroti, Bhog Aroti and Brahmin Bhojon. In following religious sanctity there has been no compromise by the members of the family even down so many years from when the event originated.
She is then adorned in red bordered saari and vermilion is smeared on its leaves, as a mark of a married woman and placed on a decorated pedestal and worshipped with flowers, sandalwood paste and incense sticks. Later she is placed on the right side of Lord Ganesh. This ritual is followed by placing the ghot full of holy water that is worshipped for the next few days. This followed by the usual Soptomi Pujo, Aroti, Bhog Aroti and Brahmin Bhojon. In following religious sanctity there has been no compromise by the members of the family even down so many years from when the event originated.