Arjun Munda hosts Kali Puja in Jamshedpur, Raghubar Das participates

Jamshedpur: The who�s who of the city participated in the Maa Kali Puja celebration at residence of Union Minister Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda in Ghodabandha. Maintaining more than the 20-year-old tradition Munda on Tuesday played a host at the Maa Kali Puja celebration. The senior leader organised the puja and he distributed bhog to the devotees.

Chief Minister Raghubar Das along with other senior leaders,�BJP leaders PN Singh, Amarpreet Singh Kale�senior corporate officials participated in the event. Das, who has been in the city for Diwali celebrations visited the residence of senior leader. On the occasion, Das took blessings from Goddess Kali and extended his warm greetings to the people of Jharkhand on the occasion. Both Munda and Das attracted the attention of shutterbugs and took Bhog together.

Das  who arrived at Ghorabandha at around 10.30 am was served bhog along with the three times former Chief Minister and now Union Minister Arjun Munda at the sprawling canvas pandal (more than 15,000 sq feet) erected for the day-long bhog distribution ceremony.

�Meanwhile, since early morning, party leaders, corporate honchos and well wishers poured into the Munda�s residence where Kali Puja is celebrated in a big way traditionally.

�It was nice interacting with the Raghubar jee. We spoke about different initiatives being taken for the welfare of the State.  Kali puja is one such occasion where I look forward to interact with my family members and other citizens of the city,� said Munda.

Talking to the newsmen on the occasion he said “Today is the auspicious occasion. I extend my warm greetings to the people of Jharkhand on the occasion of Kali Puja and Chhath.

Munda every year organises the puja at his paternal house in Jamshedpur to seek the blessing of the goddess. The Kali Puja is an annual affair organised by the Mundas for two decades now, with his brother Bhim Singh also taking active interest in the proceedings.

Wearing traditional off-white kurta and pyjama with maroon bundy, Munda interacted with his guests, exchanging pleasantries with all, laughing over shared jokes. Then the Union MInister along with his wife Meera Munda took upon the task of serving bhog, cajoling his guests into having generous helpings of puri, sabji, kheer, khichdi and begun bhaja. Other items on the menu were mixed vegetables and chutney.

A close associate of Munda said that Kali Puja is regarded very important by Munda family. Houses are decorated and elaborate Rangoli pattern are drawn in front of houses and courtyard. Elaborate Kali Puja is carried out during the evening at the pandals. As Goddess Kali is regarded as the Goddess to be feared family members leave no stone unturned in carrying out a special puja for her. Through Puja they seek happiness, prosperity and protection against hardships.

According to Hindu mythology Goddess Kali is the first of the ten incarnations of Goddess Durga. Depicted with a fierce face and terrifying look Goddess Kali is regarded as the more aggressive form of Goddess Durga. The image of Kali usually shows her foot on Lord Shiva’s chest, a severed head in one hand, her sword in the other and wearing a garland of skulls. Kali is worshiped as the Mother Goddess who is known to destroy all evil and is a fierce fighter for the cause of justice.