Stories
Ranaghat Marks 331 Years of Sadu-Bauni Durga Puja Tradition
- •The historic Sadu-Bauni Durga Puja in Purohit Para of Ranaghat, Nadia has stepped into its 331st year.
- •According to legend, a child widow named Sadu initiated this worship centuries ago after bringing it from her in-laws' house.
- •Brahmin women were historically called Bauni, which gave the puja its unique name Sadu-Bauni.
- •The once-private family puja was transformed into a public celebration in the year 1971.
- •Centuries-old dietary offerings including urad dal on Shashthi and panta bhat with taro leaves on Dashami are still strictly followed.
Key Questions Answered
The Sadu-Bauni Durga Puja in Purohit Para, Ranaghat, is 331 years old and was originally initiated by a child widow named Sadu. She brought the worship from her in-laws' house in Kalna to her ancestral home in what was then Brahmadanga. Because Brahmin women were historically called 'Bauni', the celebration came to be known as the Sadu-Bauni puja.
The Sadu-Bauni Durga Puja originally started as a family puja centuries ago. In 1971, it transitioned into a public (sarbojanin) festival, becoming a central gathering place for the entire neighborhood across generations.
The puja maintains centuries-old food traditions, including urad dal (kalai-er dal) as bhog on Shashthi. On Dashami, offerings include leftover soaked rice (panta bhat), taro leaf curry (kochu shaak), and chaltar tok, alongside traditional sacrifices of sugarcane, pumpkin, and banana.
