A Muslim girl chosen as ‘Kumarika’ for Shri Durga Puja in Kolkata

Kolkata – In Kolkata’s ‘Navin Nagar’, the organisers of Durga Puja have broken a Puja tradition by choosing a Muslim 8-year-old girl Nafisa, for the ritual of ‘Kumarika Puja’ on Maha Ashtami day. The organisers said that this choice was made to send a message of harmony among different Faiths. (Is there even a single example of a Hindu being included by Christians or Muslims in their religious rituals ? – Editor)

It is a known practice to choose a Brahmin Kumarika as Durga Devi on Maha Ashtami Day. ‘Mruttika Club’ Mahila Samiti has said that a Muslim girl has been chosen with the purpose of spreading harmony and inclusivity among different Faiths.

The organisers explained that they were inspired by Swami Vivekanand. A hundred years ago in 1898, while travelling by a boat, Swami Vivekanand had worshipped a Muslim boatman’s 4-year-old daughter for Kumarika Puja and touched her feet as a part of the ritual to take blessings of goddess Durga. (Swami Vivekanand had also announced ‘Garv se kaho hum Hindu hain’, meaning, say it proudly that we are proud Hindus. Will the organisers recall this slogan ? – Editor).

Editorial Perspectives

• Those who are obsessed with secularism take such shameful step ! It is a matter of utter dismay that Hindus do not learn from history where they have faced treachery many times only because of their over tolerance.

• One must take a note of the fact that though Hindus are extremely tolerant, secularists blame them as ‘violent’ and ‘intolerant’.