BONGAIGAON, (Assam): Have you heard of Asur puja? It’s a celebration that is performed by the Adivasi-Santhals settled in Assam.
The Celebration of ‘Samrat Asur Hudur Durga’ (a legendary King of the Adivasi-Santhals) puja ended yesterday with Vijaya Dashami.
Around 3,000 Adivasi-Santhals of Deosri (Tibitola) along the India-Bhutan border in Chirang district celebrated this puja to remember their King Asur Hudur Durga.
Adivasi-Santhals believe that Goddess Durga killed their King Asur Hudur Durga as ‘Mahisasura’ during this festival, Sahan Hembrom (23), a member of this puja celebration committee, said.
Asur Puja starts on Mahanavami and ends on Vijaya Dashami. The devotees keep the idol of the Asura King under a tree in some isolated place after the puja instead of immersing it in water bodies.
Only in Chirang district of Assam is this Asura King’s puja being performed in sync with Durga Puja since the past 3 years.
In Bengal last year, this puja was celebrated in 334 places. This year too the same puja was celebrated at 700 places in Bengal, Sahan informed.
“We just remember the King and simply offer floral tribute to his idol and seek the blessings from our traditional deities – Majhi Than, Jaher Than and Kudam Nayeke,” Sahan said.

Dev Boruah (Guwahati)

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