Navratri celebrations are in full swing, but the Durga Puja at Gumo, in Jharkhand’s Koderma district, stands out for its unique traditions. This puja, dating back 600 years, involves the sacrifice of over 3,000 goats throughout the Navratri period. The rituals include the installation of the Kalash and sacrifices performed daily until Navami. A special recitation of mantras from a handwritten ancestral manuscript is also a key part of the Ashtami puja; the book is only opened for the duration of the puja and then carefully preserved.
According to the temple’s head priest, Dashrath Pandey, the area of Gumo was ruled by two brothers, Ratan Sai and Mardan Sai, in 1400 AD. They initiated the Durga Puja during Navratri. Faced with the growing influence of the Mughals, they were forced to flee their रियासत. Before departing, they handed over the temple’s responsibility to their family priests, Jiyaram Pandey, Ramsevak Pandey, and Abhay Ram Pandey.