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Jalpaiguri's Raikanth family worship Devi Durga since they were the zamindars of Jalpaiguri. Their Durga idol is red in colour. Its height is 15 ft. In the ancient times human sacrifice was an important feature but now a human doll is made out of flour which is sacrificed at the alter.

Bishnupur's Raja Jagatsingh Deb, the king of Molla, started Devi puja in the year 997. Here the idol is not immersed. The clay used 1000 years back is still present in the image. Each year a fresh layer of clay is applied on the idol. During Ashtami Puja the canon ball is fired. On the Bijoya Dashami day effigies of Kumbhakarna, the day after (eka dashi) Indrajeet and the next day (da dashi) Ravana are burnt. Indrajeet was the son and Kumbhakarna was the brothers of Ravana. This is practiced following the Purana's Akal Bodhon when Ram worships Goddess Durga for shakti to kill Ravana.

Cooch Bihar's Durga idol is built according to the ancient scriptures of purana. The Goddess is red in colour. She is adorned with gold ornaments. The Devi's left leg remains on the buffalo while the right on the lion. Durga has two appurtenances (bahanas), a tiger and a lion. Asura emerges from a headless buffalo. Durga is not accompanied with Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh and Kartik. By the Goddess side are her 'sakhi'(companions), Jaya and Bijaya. The height of the Goddess is 10.5ft. The craftsmen who build the idol are descendants of the royal family. The diety is built on the eighth day of shravan (July/August). A 10.5ft moyna tree is cut to make the frame work of the idol.
In the midnight of Ashtami a ritual takes place just for the royal family when human blood is offered to the Goddess. The person who gives his blood is of the royal family. Ashtami is the sacrifice day when birds and buffalos are sacrificed.

Shitala village of Lavapur in Birbhum is famous for its Durga Puja. This community earn their living by performing magic. In the temple of Durga they sprinkle vermilion and cover it with a cloth. It is said that on seeing the footprint of the Goddess Durga on the cloth, the sandhi puja commences. This ritual still continues till date.

In the village of Surul (Bolpur), in Birbhum, the Sarkars of Boro Bari perform Devi Puja. Bharat Chandra Sarkar was the first to start Devi Puja about 250 years ago. On Saptami the Goddess is brought home by the family on their shoulders. 'Kumari Bhog' is a feature of their family Puja. The aarti is done 3 times a day and a long handled fan is used too. On saptami 'Chalkumro' is sacrificed while on Sandhi Puja they sacrifice a goat.

Traditional Durga pujas in Bengali households
( inside Calcutta )