Tara temple kangra

Tara Temple Gears Up for Durga Puja

Jalandharpeeth is widely known for being a place of worship and meditation of different cults of Hinduism. Shaiv, Shakat and Vaishnav, the three main cults of Hinduism, enjoy equal recognition in the opinion of theologians and pundits. It is said this place answers equally to all devotees of these branches. It is said in this context, the famous Survojonin Puja, a form of goddess Durga worship, prevalent in the West Bengal region is being conducted in the Kangra district for the last 47 years at Tara Mandir, Ghurkari near Kangra.  This is the second oldest Puja of the state after the famous 102 year old Kalibari Puja of Shimla. This year, the Puja will begin on October 10 with Amantran or Adhivas and Maha Sasthi Puja.  Kamal Paul, a renowned artist from West Bengal along with his son Shubhankar Chitrakar, has been visiting the area over two decades to make idols of goddess Mahisasur Mardini, her daughters Laxmi and Sarawati and two sons Kartik and Ganesh as per tradition. “We take around 10 days for making these idols”, Kamal Paul tells. Soil from different places is collected before the process of idol making is started, he told.

Procedure, Arrangements

L. K. Ghosh, member of the publicity committee said that chief deity Mahisasur Mardini and other gods and goddess would be invited on the sixth day of the Navratri Parva with Amantran or Adhivas and Maha Sasthi Puja. Maha Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dasami Puja would be followed by Darpan Bisarjan, Sidhur Khela and Murti Visarjan. A community feast would also be organized on October 18 after the Tara Mata Puja. Army Jawans and officers from the Rising Star, 9 Corps, Yol have confirmed their participation in advance. Locals also participate enthusiastically in the festival. Temple officer, Brijjeshwari Devi, Pawan Patial told that all arrangements like sanitation, health and security were being reviewed as the town would be busy in receiving the devotees from all corners of the country when the first navratri began on October 05.

History of Puja

This Puja was started in the Cantonment, Yol (Young Officers Line) in 1967 in Kangra district as Bengali devotees serving in the Indian Army decided to initiate the ceremony to enjoy their own ritual ambience.  Swami A. S. Brahamchari, chief priest of Tara Mandir, popularly known as Lal Baba, has been organizing the puja for the last 45 years. He tells, “Durga, the chief goddess, the symbol of strength and spirituality, is worshipped to seek her blessings for all human beings and inspire them to adopt the path of righteousness.