During Durgotsav, Goddess Durga is worshipped in all feminine forms – Shakti, Shanti, Mother, sister and Daughter…… Kumari (unmarried girl). Little girls of age 3 to 9 are dressed up in the solah singars with alankars (jewellery) like bangles, earrings, necklace, Maang tika, bindi…… I honestly wouldn’t be able to translate all of them for you to sum it……. she is dressed like a bride and then the priest prays to her as he would to the Goddess. She is offered flowers, food of her choice (even Chocolates), incense and arati is done of her like it would be done of the Goddess. The best part of the whole thing is that the little girl then gets to bless everybody. I find it really hilarious when the little girl is asked to hold the shanti mudra and bless people who are more than 10 to 20 times her age.

Out of all the Kumaris that I have taken pics of during Durgotsav this little girl has captured my heart forever. She was so calm and serene all through the rituals……. probably bribed big time by her parents but the end result was beautiful. I was so enamored by her that I just couldn’t stop taking pics of her……. very very photogenic I have rarely seen a little girl of her age so patient and calm.