Kumari Puja observed in Assam's Bongaigaon, drawing hundreds of devotees

Kumari Puja was observed at the Ramakrishna Sevashram in Missionpara, Bongaigaon, in Assam, with several hundred devotees attending the traditional Hindu ritual centred on the worship of a young girl as an embodiment of Goddess Durga.

The ritual was conducted in keeping with tradition, with devotees gathering at the Sevashram to offer prayers and participate in the observance.

Kumari Puja involves worshipping a young girl dressed as the goddess. According to Hindu tradition, the girl is revered as a manifestation of the divine feminine and a symbol of Shakti, or feminine power.

The ritual holds significance in the Ramakrishna Mission tradition and is associated with Swami Vivekananda, who emphasised the worship of the divine mother and the recognition of feminine power through the practice.

The observance at the Bongaigaon Sevashram witnessed the participation of devotees from the area, who gathered to take part in the prayers and rituals.