First Time in Kolkata, Women Priests Will Conduct Public Durga Puja

A new example is going to be set in Kolkata this Navratri. For the first time in history, public Durga Puja will be conducted by four women priests.
Image Credit: DB
Image Credit: DB

A new example is going to be set in Kolkata this Navratri. For the first time in history, public Durga Puja will be conducted by four women priests. South Kolkata Club, which has been recognized for innovation on Durga Puja, has taken this decision.

Team of four women

Pradyumna Mukherjee of the 66 Palli Puja Committee, which conducts puja in the club, says that it has never happened before that from Khunti Puja (the initial worship of making a pandal) to Vijaya Dashami, a woman priest has performed the puja. But in our club, a team of four women will start this new tradition.

'Worship of Mother Goddess by Mothers'

They have their own unique way of worshiping them. Songs of different genres like Rabindra Sangeet, Rajinikanth, Dwijendra Geet along with the mantras of worship will be a special attraction. Dr. Nandini Bhowmik, Ruma Roy, Semanti Banerjee, and Paulomi Chakraborty have been organizing important events like weddings, griha Pravesh in the city for a decade, but this will be the first time that they will perform idol worship as priests. Mukherjee said, "We feel that the modern generation needs to interpret scriptures in a proper way."

Rituals of worship

Image Credit: The Indian Express
Image Credit: The Indian Express

On the other hand, Nandini says that we are doing extensive research to convert priesthood into art. During this, we found that many people nowadays prefer to engage in other activities instead of engaging in the rituals of worship. Our aim is to engage such people in the worship work with interest.

A film has also been made on their struggle.

Taking inspiration from Nandini's life and work, the film 'Brahma Jaaneen Gopon Kommoti' (Brahma is known, what is the secret work) has also been made. So the main character gets married into a narrow-minded family. Where women's views were not given importance in worship and religious practices, the story of the film was built on the struggle to overcome these challenges.

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