The Dutta Bari family Durga Puja located in Ward No 1 of Assam’s Dhubri town is one of the most celebrated and oldest family pujas in town since 1861.
The puja was originally started by Rasmoni Dutta, wife of Raj Mohan Dutta, the third generation of Dutta’s family in 1861 while the tradition is still alive and observes by the eighth generation of Dutta family.
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In the beginning, there was a ritual to sacrifice of animals and total 108 goats were sacrificed during the puja.
But,in the year 1935 it was stopped due to the sudden and untimely demise of her two elder sons namely Kishor Mohan Dutta and Beni Madhav Dutta.
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The sacrifice rituals of animal was withdrawn and in later stage.
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Following the one year gap in 1935, Raj Mohan Dutta and his three sons namely Pyari Mohan Dutta, Shashi Mohan Dutta and Lalit Mohan Dutta had re-started to organize the puja at the premises and which is still continue without any break, said Pradip Dutta, a senior family member.
Pradip Dutta, who retired as a senior director of Archeological Survey of India further said that there is also a ritual to construct the idol Durga which has begins on the day of ‘Janmastami’ at the temple located at Duttabari premises.
The 15 foot tall idol size, color and costumes of traditional goddess have remained the same as usual as was in the beginning.
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There is also a ritual to follow a tradition during the immersion of idol and accordingly the idol been kept on bamboos placed between the two boats and it immersion has been taken place at a schedule time.
Meanwhile, the family members of Dutta’s family who are residing in other parts of the state and even in abroad have arrived in Dhubri to celebrate the puja and ready for warm welcome to their worship of goddess Durga on her 159 years of celebration.
Pradip said that he has settled in Calcutta but comes to Dhubri every year with his family for the puja.
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The most attractive part of the Duttabari Durga puja for the last couple of years is the Dhaak and aarati dance performance by renowned Bharatnatyam and Kathak dancer, the German–born Erika Nandi Ingrid who is also the daughter-in-law of Dutta family.