Durga Puja might be over, but in a tiny corner of North Dinajpur, the celebrations have started again.

In Khadimpur, a village some 13km away from Raiganj town, a Durga Puja starts from Dashami which traditionally is the last day.

“This Puja is around 500 years old. Here, the goddess is worshipped as Balaichandi Devi. The Puja started from Dashami and will continue for four days. This year too, we have organised the puja that draws hundreds of people from across the district and the neighbouring state of Bihar,” said Nirmal Barman, a member of the organising committee.

Barman, who is a resident of Khadimpur, said that the idol here is slightly different from the traditional Durga idol.

“You won’t find the Mahishasur (the demon) with the goddess. Also, the Durga idol here has four and not 10 hands. However, just like the traditional form, she is accompanied by her children,” he added.

On the occasion of the Puja, a fair is also held in Khadimpur village.

“Most of the villagers here eagerly wait for this Puja instead of going to Raiganj or other places for pandal-hopping earlier. It is because of the unique tradition of this Puja that the locals work together to make it a success. The fair is an added attraction,” said Ramen Barman, a senior resident.

Historians said that in certain parts of north Bengal, Durga is venerated in different forms after Dashami like in Khadimpur.

For instance, the goddess is worshipped as Bhandani in some parts of Jalpaiguri.

“Many people dwelling in the region, especially the Rajbanshi community, believe that before returning to her husband’s place in Kailash, the goddess had stayed back in these parts for some days. That is why there is a custom of organising such a Puja, where the idol is a bit different from the traditional idol, from Vijaya Dashami,” said Soumen Nag, a social researcher based in Siliguri.