The worship of Ma Gosani of the Khayer Khal region in Maynaguri, Bengal, during Durga is unique Puja. She is a form of Goddess Durga, yet her worship takes place only on Navami (the ninth day of Durga Puja), and her mount is not a lion — but a tiger! Maynaguri Khayerkhal Durga Puja 2026 Navami puja date is October 19.
Story Of Maynaguri Khayerkhal Durga Puja
The story begins many years ago, during the British rule in
India. In the remote village of Khayer Khal in Maynaguri, two brothers named
Parbaticharan and Mahendranath Ray were visited by a wandering monk. The monk
handed them a small golden idol of Goddess Durga, only about three or four
inches tall. Before departing, he told the brothers that if he ever returned,
he would take the idol back. But if he never came again, they must install the
idol and worship the Goddess on the day of Navami. The monk never returned —
and from then on, this one-day Durga Puja began in Khayer Khal. However, here
the goddess is not called Durga, but Ma Gosani.
Unique Ma Gosani Golden Idol Of Khayerkhal
This golden idol has some unique features. Although the
Goddess has ten arms, only two — the ones holding the trident — bear weapons;
the rest of her hands are empty. There are no figures of Lakshmi, Saraswati,
Ganesha, or Kartik present in this worship. And as mentioned before, her mount
is a tiger, not a lion.
History Of Maynaguri Khayerkhal Durga Puja
According to the descendants of the Ray family, two years
after India’s independence, on the day of Mahanavami, Rajen Ray performed the pran-pratishtha
(ritual consecration) of the Goddess and began the worship. He served as the
priest of the Ma Gosani temple and even built a secret sanctum within the
temple to keep the golden idol safe.
Theft And Recovery
However, the hidden chamber eventually drew the attention of
bandits, and the idol was stolen. Later, after a divine message received in a
dream, the idol was recovered — but since that incident, the golden idol has
never again been kept in the temple. Now, certain families in the village take
turns conducting the worship each year, and the family whose turn it is keeps
the golden idol under their care for the entire year. Only members of the
temple committee know where the idol is actually kept.
On Dashami (the tenth day), the Goddess is not immersed in the river with chants and rituals; instead, she is taken back to the secret chamber under strict police protection. Although animal sacrifice was once part of the ritual, it is no longer practiced today.