Monks and brahmacharis of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission on Wednesday performed a puja of the wooden structure on which the idol of Goddess Durga will be placed during Durga Puja at Belur Math.

Swami Vivekananda had started Durga Puja at Belur Math, the headquarters of the Math and Mission, in 1901 to institutionalise the respect for divinity of motherhood and sanctity of womanhood.

Since monks cannot undertake this kind of ritualistic worship, Vivekananda had decreed that Durga Puja would be performed in the name of Ma Sarada.