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RANGPUR, Sept 30, 2025 (BSS) - The Sanaton community celebrated the Kumari Puja on the ‘Mohaassthami’ in the city today through worshiping goddess Durga as a `Kumari', a pure-hearted girl and the virgin form of the goddess.
 
The Sanaton devotees, including young girls and women, attired in traditional dresses, thronged the ‘Ramakrishna Ashram and Ramkhana Mission’ at Mahiganj in the city in festive moods to celebrate Kumari Puja with due religious rituals and festivity.
 
One nine-year old minor girl Aporajita, symbolising the Kumari form of mother Durga, was worshipped on the ‘‘Mohaassthami’ in front of the idol of goddess Durga at the Mahiganj Ramakrishna Ashram mandap in the city.
 
Principal of ‘Mahiganj Ramakrishna Ashram and Ramkhana Mission’ Swami Sontotananda conducted the religious rituals of the 'Kumari Puja' there in presence of thousands of the Sanaton devotees.
 
An hour-long celebration of the Kumari Puja began at 11 am when the Sanaton devotees thronged the ‘Ramakrishna Ashram and Ramkhana Mission’ Mandir and started offerings to mother Durga in the form of `Kumari' as a symbol of pure-hearted virgin girl.
 
Goddess Durga was worshipped through Kumari Puja with five offerings - fire, air, clothes, flowers and garlands. 
 
The Sanaton devotees of all ages, including adolescents, teenage and young girls, offered water, clothes and flowers at the feet of the `Kumari' along with gold and silver ornaments amid due religious fervour. 
 
President of Ramakrishna Mission Ashram at Mahiganj in Rangpur city Dr Ajay Kumar Roy said goddess Durga is being worshipped for time immemorial in various forms, including `Kumari', a pure-hearted girl and the virgin form of the divinity.
 
Narrating the history and significance of Kumari Puja, he said that Sri Sri Ramakrishnadev worshipped the living form of goddess Durga through Kumari Puja. 
 
“Sri Sri Ramakrishnadev realized that all living beings are Narayana, and among women, the mother is the most worshipable," he said.
 
Later, Swami Vivekananda also introduced this worship at Belur Math in India. Since then, Kumari Puja has been practiced with pomp and religious solemnity in every branch of the Ramakrishna Mission to this day. 
 
“In this worship, we see the embodiment of eternal power in the virgin girl, the manifestation of the goddess in the form of a mother,” Dr Ajay Kumar Roy added.