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Mahasaptami ups spirit among festive frenzy Kolkatans
Kolkata, Oct 20 (IBNS): As the day of Mahasaptami commenced, the festive spirit, joy and enthusiasm of the Bengali community in Kolkata received an extra fillip on Tuesday with people upping their celebratory mood to a great deal.
Mahasaptami is one of the important days in the course of Durga Puja, which the Kolkatans ardently wait for.
It is from this day, the main rituals associated with the Durga Puja commences.
On Mahasaptami, some important rituals of the puja are performed with 'Nabapatrika snan' or 'Kolabou snan' (bathing of banana bride) and 'pravesh' (entrance of Goddess in the mandap-the place of worship) at dawn.
The stem of a banana plant is bathed and draped in a red and white saree that make it look like a newly wed bride and then placed beside Lord Ganesha as 'Kalabou' is considered to be his wife according to Hindu mythology.
Kalabou is also known as another form of Durga. It is with the ritual bathing of Kalabou that the puja starts on Mahasaptami day. In the scriptures Kalabou is also called Nabapatrika which can be linked to the worship by the peasants for good harvest during autumn and when idol worship was not in practice.
While Nabapatrika, which comprises nine plants including Kalagaach (Banana Plant), later was integrated with the Durga Puja, it is said to be the oldest form of worship.
Meanwhile, the entire city was busy celebrating the night of Mahashasti as they hopped from one pandal (marquees) to another to take an eyeful of the beauty and exclusiveness of each idol and decoration.
Long queues were spotted in front of the popular restaurants of the city. The road side food stalls gave them a tough competition in drawing certain section of the crowd who wanted to save time by having some quick ready made foods.
The madness and the rush is expected to increase from Mahasaptami as Kolkata and West Bengal will step into the main phase of the puja from Tuesday.
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