Durga Puja 2021: Overcoming gender stereotypes, female priests perform rituals in Kolkata

Durga Puja 2021: Whether it is for Durga Puja, Dussehra puja or any other puja for that matter, having male priests perform the rituals has always been the norm. 

Breaking this widely accepted gender norm, a group of female priests performed the Durga Puja ceremony at Kolkata's 66 Pally Durga Puja. Nandini Bhowmick, Ruma Roy, Seymanti Banerjee, and Poulomi Chakroborty are in charge of all the festivities honouring the Goddess Durga.

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Known to be a part of the collective, "Shubhamastu," they have been presiding over rituals and ceremonies for over a decade. The four priestesses were appointed after the passing away of the main male priest of the committee. 

Both the 66 Pally Durga Puja Committee of South Kolkata and the four female priests have taken a step to inspire more women to walk into regions where they have never gone before. 

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