Lathee Puja for Hindu devotees

Lathee Puja for Hindu devotees at Mirerbari village of Rajarhat

Lathee Puja (stick worship) with the bamboo stick is an exceptional culture of Hindu devotees. The worship has been being observed for so long at Chhinay union under Rajarhaat upazila in Kurigram.

There is an open pavilion for worshiping beside Rangpur-Kurigram road at Mirer Bari village of Chhinay union under Rajarhaat upazila.

Shannash Thakur Puja (worship) has been being held for so long here. Hindu devotees pray to Sannash Thakur (deity) with small bamboo sticks. Locals mention it as Lathee Puja. Sometimes, locals also worship the deity giving various items.

Local said the Jhinay River, a branch river of the Teesta River, was flowing beside Mirer Bari village around four hundred years ago. Then many merchants came by boat in the area for trading. Beside the Jhinay River, there was a burning ghat of Hindus people where there was a big Bel (wood-apple) tree. The merchants would worship in bottom place of the Bel tree giving bamboo sticks, such that they can get more profit through their trades. They would assume Sannash Thakur lives in the tree. So they would pray to him.

Local Arati Rani (54) said, “Now there is no trace of the Jhinay River being filled up it. But Hindu devotees have been worshiping to Sannash Thakur till now with bamboo sticks making an image of the deity under a Bel tree. To worship the deity, the devotees place a bundle of five or seven sticks of length 1.5 or 2 fits. During the worship, they play a big dram (Dhol).”

“Taking hope on believe, Hindu males and females came here every week from different places to worship the deity. The main worship is held on last day of the Bangla month Paush. On the day, over five hundred devotees come here and observe the day-long programme, she added.