Nadia Family In West Bengal Replaces Clay Idol With 8-Year-Old Daughter For Lakshmi Puja In West Bengal's Nadia district, Debashis and Lakshmi Biswas worshipped their eight-year-old daughter as the goddess to advocate for female safety and gender equality. In an unconventional departure from festive tradition, a family in West Bengal's Nadia district chose to honor their eight-year-old daughter as the living embodiment of Goddess Lakshmi during Kojagari Lakshmi Puja on Sharad Purnima. While devotees across the state typically install clay sculptures in homes and community pandals, the household residing in Shibnibash Haldarpara of Krishnaganj decided to perform full ritualistic prayers before their child. The initiative blended religious reverence with a poignant social message aimed at eliminating gender disparity, elevating respect for daughters, and addressing mounting concerns regarding female safety following severe violent crimes. Honoring a Living Daughter Instead of Traditional Clay Sculpture Debashis Biswas and his wife Lakshmi Biswas organized the festival around their eight-year-old daughter, Shruti, presenting her in the traditional attire of the deity. The young girl was seated upon a ceremonial pedestal at their home in Shibnibash Haldarpara. A local priest was brought in to conduct the sacred rituals in accordance with traditional religious practices. As news of the ceremony spread through the neighborhood, residents gathered at the residence to observe the unique worship. The couple explained that the gesture was designed to challenge prevailing social biases, dismantle discrimination between sons and daughters, and present the girl child as an equal deserving of dignity. Mounting Distress Over Violent Crimes Against Women and Minors The motivation behind the decision was rooted in recent violent events that have raised severe questions about female protection across the region. The brutal assault and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, the horrific rape and murder of Uma in Kultali, and the shocking incident in Krishnanagar where a young woman was raped, killed, and had her body burned on the day of Lakshmi Puja have deeply distressed the community. Observing these crimes, Debashis and Lakshmi Biswas felt compelled to make a public statement. Through the devotional ceremony centered on their daughter, they sought to remind society that women and young girls require unwavering safety, institutional protection, and genuine respect. A Call for Families to Recognize Daughters as Divine Blessings Explaining the philosophy behind the ritual, Shruti's mother, Lakshmi Biswas, remarked that every household ought to look upon their daughters as personifications of divine grace. She stated that women represent the primal maternal force and expressed immense pride in honoring her young daughter through sacred rites. Her husband, Debashis Biswas, reflected on how the birth of their daughter brought tangible growth and positive transformation into their family life. He emphasized that girls should never face neglect or secondary treatment in homes, asserting that society must afford boys and girls identical respect and opportunities without prejudice. Endorsement from Local Priest and Prayers for Displaced Workers Tarun Banerjee, the neighborhood priest who officiated the proceedings, lauded the initiative of the Biswas household as a vital step toward social enlightenment. He observed that daughters carry the maternal essence and that nurturing them with unconditional affection and honor directly benefits future generations. Alongside prayers for his daughter, Debashis Biswas extended his invocations toward qualified individuals who have lost their livelihoods and employment. He offered prayers asking that those currently fighting for their legitimate rights and career security find renewed stability, prosperity, and peace in their lives. Demanding Equal Dignity Beyond Religious Observances Neighbors and visitors who arrived to witness the service expressed strong support for the Biswas family's initiative. The couple expressed hope that practical demonstrations of this nature will gradually erode deep-seated patriarchal prejudices and foster community vigilance regarding the protection of women and children. They maintained that showing reverence to daughters must not remain confined to an annual ritual or ceremonial festive calendar, but must instead translate into equal standing, genuine safety, and shared respect within everyday life. What this means for you This community initiative offers practical encouragement for households to move beyond symbolic celebrations and actively ensure equal rights for girls. • Across India: The act encourages families nationwide to re-examine gender roles and eliminate discrimination between male and female siblings at home. It challenges communities to grant girls real-world autonomy, education, and respect rather than limiting reverence to annual festivals. • In West Bengal: Coming in the wake of disturbing criminal incidents in Kolkata, Kultali, and Krishnanagar, the gesture reinforces citizen-led advocacy for women's security. It urges local neighborhoods to actively foster an environment where young women can live without fear. • For Parents: The Biswas family sets an operational example for parents to actively affirm their daughters' equal status in the household. It motivates guardians to invest in their daughters' holistic development and personal dignity every day. • For Social Practices: The event demonstrates how traditional cultural observances can be organically repurposed to address contemporary social concerns. It highlights how ordinary citizens can initiate grassroots awareness against gender bias without institutional aid. Why this happened The family chose to worship their daughter instead of a clay idol primarily due to deep distress over recent violent crimes against women and persistent social bias against girls. • String of Violent Crimes: The brutal killing of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, the rape and murder in Kultali, and the horrific assault and burning of a young woman in Krishnanagar sparked severe community outrage. These tragedies compelled the Biswas family to take a public stand for female safety. • Eradicating Gender Disparity: The parents sought to counter the persistent societal preference for sons over daughters. By placing eight-year-old Shruti on the puja pedestal, they aimed to visibly demonstrate that girl children deserve absolute parity and dignity. • Reinterpreting Cultural Rituals: Rather than performing a routine ceremony before an inanimate clay idol on Sharad Purnima, the parents believed honoring a living female child offered a more meaningful interpretation of maternal divine power. • Solidarity with the Distressed: The father also used the solemn gathering to express public support for qualified individuals who have lost their jobs and are struggling for their livelihoods. Questions & Answers 1. In which district of West Bengal did the family worship their daughter as Lakshmi? The event took place in Shibnibash Haldarpara of Krishnaganj block, located in the Nadia district of West Bengal. 2. What is the name and age of the girl who was worshipped? The girl's name is Shruti, and she is 8 years old. 3. Who are the parents of the girl child? Her father is Debashis Biswas and her mother is Lakshmi Biswas. 4. On which festival was this unique worship held? The ceremony was held on the occasion of Kojagari Lakshmi Puja during Sharad Purnima. 5. Why did the family decide to worship their daughter instead of a clay idol? They wanted to protest recent violence against women, raise awareness for female safety, and promote gender equality in society. 6. What is the name of the priest who performed the religious rituals? The rituals were conducted by local priest Tarun Banerjee. 7. What additional prayer was offered by Debashis Biswas during the event? He offered prayers for qualified citizens who have lost their jobs and are struggling to secure their livelihoods and rights. https://trendkia.com/en/west-bengal/west-bengal-ke-nadia-men-parivara-ne-mitti-ki-pratima-ki-jagaha-8-sala-ki-beti-ko-devi-manakara-ki-lakshmi-puja-51901 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.