Author: Madhuri Kumar
Publication: The Times of India
Date: October 16, 2010
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Pumpkins-cucumbers-replace-animal-sacrifice-in-Puja/articleshow/6756355.cms#ixzz12Y1hC0oQ
Isn't it a heartening news that Durga Puja
committees have been sensitized against animal sacrifice and Puja pandals
did not offer any `patha bali' on Mahaastami day nor will they do so on Mahanavami
day.
Ranjit Bhattacharya, a purohit (priest) of
a Barowari Puja Committee said, "Sacrifice is an essential aspect of
the Puja, for `bali' is the symbol of power. Bali invokes power. And since
we are worshipping Durga, who is the embodiment of shakti (power), it is essential
to incorporate bali in puja, but it does not have to be an animal."
"Earlier, people here preferred animal
sacrifice because of certain socio-economic reason, but now most of the Puja
committees prefer to use vegetables or fruits," added the purohit.
Incidentally, even Bengali pandals do not
offer animal sacrifice to the goddess. Porf A K Mukherjee, an old-timer of
the city said, "It is indeed exemplary that Puja is organized in Bengali
pandals without any animal sacrifice. We offer symbolic sacrifices like that
of gourd, white pumpkin, sugarcane, cucumber etc."
A number of pandals, which have a tradition
of organizing Puja for the last 100 years, like Bengali Akhara (Langartoli),
Kali Bari (Yarpur), Bengali Akhara (Marufganj) etc and some who have a tradition
of over 25 years like Golghar Club (Golghar), Tarun Sangh (Boring Road), Recreation
Club (Bhikhna Pahari), Ramkrishna Mission Ashram (Nala Road), Adalatganj Club,
R-Block Club, Pataliputra Colony, also do not offer any animal at the altar.
Barring Darbhanga Kalibari, even Durga temples
which have a history of over 150 years like Badi Patan Devi, Choti Patan Devi,
Shitala Mandir, Agamkuan, also have no tradition of animal sacrifice.
Bali of white pumpkin, sgugarcane and cucumber
is offered specially on Mahaashtami day during sandhi pujan. An integral and
important part of Durga Puja, sandhi puja is performed at the juncture of
the 8th and 9th lunar days. Sandhi puja lasts from the last 24 minutes of
Ashtami till the first 24 minutes of Navami. As the legend goes, during this
juncture, (the "sandhikshan"), Durga is worshipped in her Chamunda
form. Devi Durga killed Chand and Mund, the two asuras at "Sandhikshan"
and thus acquired the name of "Chamunda". The merger of Mahaashtami
and Mahanavami is significant as it is in this moment that Ram sent his arrow
hitting Ravana in his navel and killing him.
