<p>The Durga Puja rituals on Monday began with Maha Ashtami 'Pushpanjali' as devotees queued at pandals across West Bengal braving the rains.</p>.<p>Long queues were seen at community puja pandals as people gathered in large numbers to offer flowers to the Goddess after two years of muted celebrations due to the pandemic.</p>.<p>Kumari Puja was held at Ramakrishna Mission's Belur Math in Howrah according to the traditions.</p>.<p>In a first, the Pushpanjali at some pandals was held with Bengali verses instead of Sanskrit, courtesy of an initiative to promote the mother tongue.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/special-menu-for-durga-puja-for-inmates-in-kolkata-prison-1150123.html" target="_blank">Special menu for Durga Puja for inmates in Kolkata prison</a></strong></p>.<p>Among those pandals were 66 Pally at Kalighat, Behala Club, Dum Dum Tarun Dal, Ultadanga Bidhan Sangha and 47 Pally Jubak Brinda.</p>.<p>Sanskrit scholar Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri, linguist Pabitra Sarkar, and Kaliprasanna Bhattacharya, a priest who has conducted Durga Puja rituals for at least 60 years, came together for translating the verses.</p>.<p>Copies of the translated verses were distributed among the puja committees.</p>.<p>The rituals on Maha Ashtami -- the second day of the four-day festival, including Pushpanjali and Sandhi Puja, are considered to be the most significant ones.</p>.<p>The weather office predicted heavy rain in the coastal districts of South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore and West Midnapore districts till Tuesday morning owing to a cyclonic circulation in northwest Bay of Bengal.</p>.<p>Thunderstorms with lightning are likely at some places in Kolkata and nearby areas.</p>.<p>The weather office has also forecast heavy rain in all the districts of north Bengal, including Darjeeling and Kalimpong, till Wednesday morning.</p>
<p>The Durga Puja rituals on Monday began with Maha Ashtami 'Pushpanjali' as devotees queued at pandals across West Bengal braving the rains.</p>.<p>Long queues were seen at community puja pandals as people gathered in large numbers to offer flowers to the Goddess after two years of muted celebrations due to the pandemic.</p>.<p>Kumari Puja was held at Ramakrishna Mission's Belur Math in Howrah according to the traditions.</p>.<p>In a first, the Pushpanjali at some pandals was held with Bengali verses instead of Sanskrit, courtesy of an initiative to promote the mother tongue.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/special-menu-for-durga-puja-for-inmates-in-kolkata-prison-1150123.html" target="_blank">Special menu for Durga Puja for inmates in Kolkata prison</a></strong></p>.<p>Among those pandals were 66 Pally at Kalighat, Behala Club, Dum Dum Tarun Dal, Ultadanga Bidhan Sangha and 47 Pally Jubak Brinda.</p>.<p>Sanskrit scholar Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri, linguist Pabitra Sarkar, and Kaliprasanna Bhattacharya, a priest who has conducted Durga Puja rituals for at least 60 years, came together for translating the verses.</p>.<p>Copies of the translated verses were distributed among the puja committees.</p>.<p>The rituals on Maha Ashtami -- the second day of the four-day festival, including Pushpanjali and Sandhi Puja, are considered to be the most significant ones.</p>.<p>The weather office predicted heavy rain in the coastal districts of South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore and West Midnapore districts till Tuesday morning owing to a cyclonic circulation in northwest Bay of Bengal.</p>.<p>Thunderstorms with lightning are likely at some places in Kolkata and nearby areas.</p>.<p>The weather office has also forecast heavy rain in all the districts of north Bengal, including Darjeeling and Kalimpong, till Wednesday morning.</p>