Jalpaiguri, 03rd October: On Ekadashi, Durga Puja celebrations resumed at the banks of Teesta in Jalpaiguri, where Goddess Durga is worshipped as Bandhani. For over 500 years, the tradition has been observed in the Barnes area of Maynaguri, Jalpaiguri.
According to local belief, more than five centuries ago, on the night of Dashami, Goddess Durga spent the night at the Teesta banks with a local shepherd family while returning to Kailash. At that time, the Teesta area was surrounded by dense forests, and tigers roamed the riverbanks during the day. Following the night, the locals offered goats, pigeons, and kids to the Goddess from the morning of Ekadashi. After the Puja, Goddess Bandhani would return to Kailash, and the region’s crops would turn lush and green that year.
Following this centuries-old tradition, residents of the Teesta banks celebrate Bandhani Puja from the morning of Ekadashi, offering pigeons and kids in the belief that the Goddess fulfills devotees’ wishes. A fair has also been organized alongside the Durga Puja celebrations.
