The Hindus have celebrated the Mahasaptami puja yesterday, the second day of the five-day Durga Puja , marking the goddess' victory over demon Mahishashur. The worshippers sang hymns and offered flowers seeking the blessings of Durga, the saviour of humanity from all evils, in the Mahasaptami. Draped in new dresses, a large number of devotees irrespective of ages are thronged the puja mandaps across the country and offered prayers before the Goddess Durga, seeking divine blessings for peace, prosperity and welfare of the country and its people. According to the Hindu religious belief, the world was under threat from the demon king Mahishasura, that no man or god could defeat.

To vanquish the demon, Durga emerged from the collective energies of all the gods. Each of her ten arms brandished the deadliest weapon of gods. On the seventh day (Maha Saptami) of Durga Puja, the goddess started her epic battle against Mahishasura which ended with his death on Vijaya Dashami (the 10th day). The five-day festival will come to an end with the immersion of idols of goddess Durga in rivers and other water bodies across the country on October 8.

The MahaShtami, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja will be held today, Mahanabami puja tomorrow and BiyoyaDashami on Tuesday (October 8). Adequate security measures have been taken for smooth celebrations of the festival.

Additional members of police, Ansar, Rapid Action Battalion and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed in puja mandaps to ensure a full-proof security.