AGARTALA, Oct 8 (TIWN): After 3 days of strictly maintained vegetable meals on Saptami, Astami, Navami, today is the day dedicated for non-veg items on Dasami. Marking a much awaited day for food lovers in Bengali families, Dasami celebration has been started across Tripura with ‘BHURIBHOJ’, means various delicious items eating filling the stomach. As a result, since morning rushes across shops were witnessed specially in the meat and fish markets added by vegetable shops too along with sweet items’ heavy demands. Dasami is also dedicated for “family” get together celebration. Dasami is known as ‘Bengali’s food day’ just like Pohela Baishak. Demand was also high for Hilsa fish across the towns. Demands for chickens, mutton are high at the same time as the food culture contributes in the Bengali dishes on Vijaya Dasami includes various fish items, chicken, mutton, dahi, sweet, chatni etc. Underscoring the festival spirit of sharing and bonding, people from all walks of life partook sumptuous community feasts at marquees and visited friends and relatives on Saturday celebrating Vijaya Dasami- the fourth and penultimate day of Durga Puja in West Bengal.

Men, mostly donning the festive attire of kurta and pyjama, and women, resplendent in bright saris, greeted friends, relatives and other acquaintances, clicked selfies and idled away time with banter and fun, soaking in the infectious carnival spirit.

As per Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga killed Chando and Mundo -- two 'asuras' (demons) at the confluence (Sandhi) of the two days. The Goddess was worshipped as the undefeated - and offered her favourite food items.

Many looked desperate, trying to visit as many community puja marquees as possible on Navami night, with the festival slated to come to an end on Saturday with the immersion of the idols on Vijaya Dashami.

According to Bengali tradition, Durga Puja begins with the symbolic arrival of Goddess Durga on Earth along with her sons Kartik and Ganesha and daughters Saraswati and Laxmi on Sashthi and ends on Dashami, celebrated across the country as Dussehra.

Traditionally, idols of Goddess Durga depict her as slaying demon Mahishasur. She is shown astride a lion and wielding an array of weapons in her 10 arms.

Few common items in Tripura's Bengali families are : 1) Muri Ganta, 2) Pathar mansho (mutton), 3) Chicken, 4) Fish fry, 5) Hilsa fish curry, 6) chatni, 7) Misto Doi, 8) Rosogolla.