Why is the soil from a prostitute's home used during Durga Puja ?
Why is the soil from a prostitute's home used during Durga Puja? It is perhaps one of the most hypocrital traditions of modern Indian society. While throughout the year, the prostitutes are shunned, looked down upon, insulted and ill-treated, come Navratri or Durga Puja and suddenly, they are revered and in demand. The reason? The idol of Goddess Durga is partially made from the soil collected from outside a prostitutes’ home. The soil known as “Punya Maati” comes from the nishiddho palli or the forbidden territories. The priest making the idol and conducting the puja must beg for the soil from a prostitute. Quite a quirk of fate but why exactly is the soil from a prostitute’s house used? Unfortunately, there are no concrete answers. Many priests of today just shroud it under the cloud of tradition. “It has been happening so since centuries. Why do we suddenly question tradition? Also, the first ever Durga idol made was made from the soil outside a prostitute’s house”, were