Nadia's Birnagar: 500-Year-Old Ulaichandi Puja Draws Devotees on Buddha Purnima

• Ulai Chandi Mata, a deity over 500 years old, is worshipped in Birnagar, Nadia.
• Thousands of devotees gather for the Ulai Chandi Puja and fair on Buddha Purnima.
• The puja is believed to have originated from Srimanta Sadagar's prayer during a storm and was historically linked to protection from cholera.
• The deity is represented by a smooth black stone under a banyan tree, not a conventional idol.
• Devotees tie clay lumps to the banyan tree for wishes, and a fair accompanies the puja.

Why It Matters: It highlights the enduring cultural and historical significance of a 500-year-old tradition.