Decision changed at the moment of immersion: Durga Puja held a second time at Koikhali in Jessore

The formalities of the autumn Durga Puja ended across the country on October 21. But at the Koikhali Sarbojanin Durga Temple in Jessore Sadar upazila, an exceptional arrangement took place. After the first round of worship, while preparations were under way to immerse the idol, a woman's unusual behaviour and her claim that the puja had been flawed led the organisers to hold the puja all over again. On Saturday (October 24), after the second round of Bijaya Dashami rituals, the programme ended in the afternoon with the immersion of the idol in the Bhairab River.

Temple organisers and local residents said that on Wednesday afternoon, on Bijaya Dashami, preparations for the immersion were in progress. At that time a woman named Sabita Rani Ghosh lost consciousness in front of the idol. When she regained consciousness a little later, she began behaving unusually. At one point she claimed that the goddess Durga had possessed her.

The woman's claim, according to the organisers, was that people in a state of ritual impurity had taken part in the puja and that the priest had performed the worship after eating fish and meat. For that reason, she said, the puja had not been performed properly, and it had to be held again to avert misfortune and for the welfare of the village. She also said that ignoring the claimed divine message could lead to a major accident in the village, the organisers reported.

People present in the temple courtyard became frightened by the incident. The immersion was then postponed and a decision was taken to hold the puja again with a new priest. According to the organisers, following the rules of the first round, the rituals from Maha Shashthi to Maha Nabami were completed in the second round. On Saturday morning, after the Bijaya Dashami ghat puja and sindur offering, the idol was immersed in the afternoon.

Ganesh Kumar, general secretary of the Koikhali Sarbojanin Durga Temple, said: 'From October 16 to 21, Durga Puja was held at this temple just as across the country. On the afternoon of October 21 we were preparing for the immersion. After various rituals, the women had also begun the sindur play. At that time Sabita Rani Ghosh began behaving unusually. When she lost consciousness, we revived her by sprinkling water on her face.'

Ganesh Kumar added: 'After that, banging her head against the wall, the woman began saying that there had been flaws in this temple's Durga Puja. The puja had not been done correctly. People in a state of impurity had joined the puja. At the same time the priest had performed the puja after eating fish and meat. That is why the Mother's puja was not done properly. If the puja is not held again, the villagers will suffer great harm.'

According to the general secretary, on the night before the incident several people from the area met with an accident on their way to see a puja in Narail. They were injured and received treatment in hospital. He claimed that after Sabita Rani Ghosh's remarks, inquiries confirmed that people in a state of impurity had indeed taken part in the puja. With the local accident also coming to the fore, people present in the temple courtyard panicked. They then decided to hold the puja again, postponing the immersion and arranging the Saptami, Ashtami, Nabami and Dashami rituals on Friday and Saturday.

Koikhali village is about 13 kilometres from Jessore town. Local followers of the Sanatan faith have been organising Durga Puja there for more than a hundred years. On Saturday at noon, local residents gathered in the temple courtyard, and amid that crowd the final rituals of the second round were completed.

Temple president Milan Kumar Roy said: 'Although Durga Puja has been organised for more than a hundred years, this time an exceptional incident occurred. Even though it cost more, the puja was arranged again for everyone's welfare. There was a kind of apprehension and fear among people. But beyond all debate, the goddess Durga has been worshipped anew. Through the immersion, we hope the goddess will forgive the mistakes and fill the neighbourhood's Sanatan followers with peace.'

Temple priest Ujjwal Kumar Chatterjee said: 'Although the scriptures have no rule for a second round of Durga Puja, wishing for the welfare of the local people, the puja was arranged again by installing the sacred pot. Hoping for the goddess's satisfaction and the overall welfare of the village, the idol was immersed in the Bhairab River on Saturday afternoon following religious rites.'

Tapan Kumar Ghosh, general secretary of the district Puja Udjapan Parishad, described the incident as exceptional. He said: 'Centred on a claim of a miraculous event, Durga Puja has been organised in two rounds in Koikhali village. The Sanatan followers, from their own faith, have performed this puja wishing for the welfare of the local people.' With the second immersion, this year's puja chapter in Koikhali has ended, though the incident remains a topic of discussion in the area.