Shatrubali (sacrifice of the enemy) is a ritual of family Durga Pujas. This custom is observed in the Pujas of many aristocratic families.
Shatrubali is performed at the house of the Kumartuli Sen
family, i.e., Gangaprasad Sen's house. The Niyogi family of Jalpaiguri also has
the custom of 'Shatru Bali' in their Durga Puja. This custom is merely a form of
symbolic sacrifice.
A human effigy is made by cutting a banana plant stem (thor)
and applying pituli (rice flour) on it. Blood is prepared with lime and
turmeric. During the sacrifice, the 'enemy' is cut into two pieces and thrown
outside the house. The two pieces are tossed to the two ends of the house.
There is a specific style for this: the pieces of the 'enemy's body' are thrown
from below the knee level. Many also make the 'enemy' out of mud.
The Ardha-Kali Durga Puja of Subhashgram also has the custom
of Shatrubali. A family member secretly makes a human-shaped doll with rice
flour. The doll is placed between two taro leaves and kept at the sacrifice
spot. A wick is lit on top of it. All the men of the family collectively
sacrifice the enemy-shaped doll. They also crush and mix it with their feet.
This signifies the destruction of the enemy of the family and the world.