Burdwan. For the past 75 years, the Maji family of Ghoghatla village in Ausgram-2 block of East Burdwan district has been jointly worshipping Goddess Durga and Goddess Kali on the same pedestal. During Sharadotsav, separate Durga idols are made and worshipped outside the temple, but inside the temple, Durga and Kali are worshipped together in their Shyamrupa form.
The Maji family used to send a bowl of rice for the Navami sacrifice at the Shyamrupa temple in Kanksa's Junglemahal. 75 years ago, Sudhir Maji, an ancestor of the family, could not send the rice on time. Upon returning home, he offered the bowl of rice in front of a stone, marking the beginning of this worship. Earlier, worship was performed by creating just a single pitcher at home. Family members make the idols themselves. The pair of idols inside the temple is immersed every three years. On the day of Bodhan, a pitcher is established using soil from a rat hole. On Chaturthi, a special prasad is prepared using seven types of vegetables including sushuni, kalmi, and palang. During the puja, clothes and jewelry offered by devotees are given as gifts to poor and needy girls of the village during the weddings of their elder brothers and sisters. Brides of the village participate in the 'Sindoor Khela' on Ekadashi instead of Dashami.
