Maha Ashtami, one of the most significant days of Durga Puja, is being celebrated across West Bengal with immense devotion on Tuesday. Devotees thronged temples and puja pandals in Murshidabad, Kolaghat, East Midnapore, and Kolkata, participating in rituals and offering prayers to Goddess Durga.
In Murshidabad, the women-led Arunachal Durga Puja Committee organised the Ashtami celebrations, attracting large crowds of devotees. In Kolaghat, the fifth edition of Pulashita village’s Durga Puja gained attention for its unique rural-themed pavilion decorations, crafted entirely by villagers. Hundreds of worshippers attended the rituals from early morning, contributing to a vibrant atmosphere filled with chants and devotional songs.
East Midnapore witnessed steady participation at multiple puja pandals, including the Kanthi Nandanik Durgotsav Committee, which saw large gatherings. State Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari is scheduled to visit this pandal to pay his respects.
In Kolkata, devotees participated in the Ashtami Pushpanjali ritual, carrying Belpatra and flowers as offerings. Long queues formed outside major pandals, with families and friends gathering to worship. Many pandals arranged prayers in multiple phases to manage the crowds. The city resonated with the rhythmic beats of Dhak drums, hymns, and mantras, creating a deeply spiritual ambience.
The festival spirit extended beyond West Bengal, with celebrations in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Temple priest Venkateshwara Shastri highlighted the day’s spiritual significance, noting that worshipping Goddess Durga on Ashtami helps devotees overcome poverty, sorrow, and fear while receiving divine blessings, prosperity, and victory.
Maha Ashtami commemorates Goddess Durga’s victory over the demons Chanda, Munda, and Raktabija, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. Devotees also worship Maa Mahagauri, an incarnation of Adi Shakti, who embodies purity, serenity, and calmness, believed to bring peace and spiritual strength to her followers.
-IANS
