Hooghly, 18 July (H.S.): Devotees across Arambagh subdivision observed Bipattarini Puja, one of Bengal's most revered folk religious festivals, with traditional rituals and deep devotion on Saturday. Temples and households witnessed special prayers, fasting, and offerings as large numbers of devotees gathered to seek the blessings of Goddess Bipattarini.

Renowned scholar and former teacher Bamapada Bandyopadhyay said the origins of the festival are rooted in an ancient folk legend. According to the popular belief, a queen once found herself in grave danger after expressing a desire to eat beef during pregnancy. In her distress, she prayed to Goddess Durga, who appeared in the form of Goddess Bipattarini and miraculously transformed the meat into fruits, saving the queen from disgrace. The legend gave rise to the tradition of worshipping the goddess for protection from danger and misfortune.

Bandyopadhyay said devotees believe that Goddess Bipattarini protects her followers from crises and adversity, a faith that continues to sustain the centuries-old tradition across Bengal.

The day was marked by religious observances, distribution of prasad and large gatherings of devotees throughout the subdivision. With participation cutting across age groups, the festival once again reflected Bengal's rich folk heritage and enduring religious traditions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey