Kolkata: Priest worships 6 year old Muslim girl as an incarnation of goddess Durga during Khuti Puja ceremony

Little Rimsha has always been a princess to her parents Nadim Ali and Sanjida. On thursday Rishima wore a traditional red banarasi saree, flowers and jewellery and became Goddess Durga.

The Muslim girl took centre stage at a community Kolkata Durga Puja whose organisers chose to hold one of its most auspicious ceremonies Khuti Puja on Eid Al Adha apart from a symbolic Kumari Puja with Rimsha to enforce the message of communal harmony at a time of rifts in society along religious lines.

Khuti Puja marks the beginning of Durga Puja preparations by starting work on the pandal. The Puja is held every year by the Puja organisers who usually chose an auspicious day to hold it.

Baranagar Friends Association, the organisers of Thursday’ event in North Kolkata said Eid was selected to decrease the religious divide that was taking place in the society. Ajoy Ghosh,the President of the association had suggested the idea of holding Khuti Puja on Eid and inviting muslim friends from the neighbourhood.

The violence in the state during Ram Navami forced the Baranagar  Friends association to think differently. The centre of attraction at the Puja was Rimsha, her feet and palms painted with red dye.

The priests worshipped her as an incarnation of Durga. Ali who has tailoring shop in Sinthee said he was overwhelmed by the proposal of  Ajoy Ghosh. Ali said his wife Sanjida too was delighted by the proposal. Ali said it was a busy day due to Eid al Adha. He said he somehow managed to attend the programme at the temple in the afternoon.

The Alis offered namaz at the nearby Baishak Bagan Jama Masjid in Cossipore Thursday morning before heading for the puja. The priest who conducted the Khuti puja was happy to be associated with the unique experience. Over half of the invitees at the Khuti puja were from the local Muslim community, many of them who were Ali’s friends.       

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