Kolkata soaks in Mahasaptami fervor

The festive spirit, joy and enthusiasm of the Bengali community in Kolkata received an extra fillip on Wednesday on the Mahasaptami day as people upped their celebratory mood to a great deal. On Mahasaptami, some important rituals of the puja are performed with 'Nabapatrika snan' or 'Kolabou snan' (bathing of banana bride) and 'pravesh' (entrance of Goddess in the mandap-the place of worship) at dawn. The stem of a banana plant is bathed and draped in a red and white saree that make it look like a newly wed bride and then placed beside Lord Ganesha as 'Kalabou' is considered to be his wife according to Hindu mythology. IBNS images of the ritual and pandal hopping since morning. Images by Avishek Mitra