Celebrations of Durga Puja and Dussehra

A five-year-old Indian girl, Paromita Chakraborty 'Kumari' (virgin girl) is worshiped by priests. Celebrations of Durga Puja and Dussehra - the last and the tenth day of fasting and festivities, Tripura, India. These images show the festivities of Durga Puja an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. As a part of Durga Puja worshiping virginity has been a special feature of the rituals. The festival commemorates the slaying of a demon king marking the triumph of good over evil. Durga Puja is the most important festival of the Bengalis and can be sensed with sensed with its frenzy and fanfare on all four days of the festival in virtually all corners of the country .Also known as sharodotsav, the festival celebrates power of female shakti symbolized by THE GODESS DURGA who slays the demons to establish peace and sanct (Photo by NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)