Lucknow: A serene smile, kohl-lined eyes and a radiant face captivated devotees as five-year-old Vriddhi Mishra was worshipped as the living embodiment of Goddess Durga during Kumari Puja at Ramakrishna Math in Lucknow on Monday.Dressed in a red saree and wearing gold jewellery, Vriddhi was carried into the pandal on a wooden chair by temple priests amid the rhythmic beats of dhaak, the ringing of cymbals, the blowing of conch shells and the traditional uludhwani (owl sound) raised by devotees.For the next 45 minutes, Vriddhi sat patiently through the rituals, blessing devotees with her right hand while holding a lotus in her left.Hundreds of people gathered to witness the ceremony, many with folded hands, seeking her blessings. Some devotees were so moved by her innocence and composure that they could not take their eyes off her.Head priest Swami Muktinathananda said the belief behind Kumari Puja is that the divine mother resides in every woman, particularly young girls.“The Kumari is generally selected about a month before the puja and is a daughter of the Math’s disciples. We look for innocence on the face and a sparkle in the eyes,” he said.Vriddhi’s parents, Vikas Mohan Mishra, 38, and Nidhi, 35, along with her elder sister Samriddhi, watched the ceremony with tears of joy.Nidhi said she had prayed for two years for her daughter to be chosen as Kumari. “I was overwhelmed and could hardly believe my daughter was being worshipped. I am grateful to Durga Maa for fulfilling my wish,” she said.Vriddhi, too, was delighted. “I felt on top of the world. From now on, I want to be more sincere and bring greater calmness into my life,” she said.
