In West Bengal, Durga Puja rituals began this morning with Maha Ashtami 'Pushpanjali'. According to the custom, Kumari Puja was held at Belur Math. On this day, many people came to the Math to see Kumari Puja. Swami Vivekanand had started Kumari Puja at Belur Math in 1901. According to that custom, the monks of Belur Math worship Kumari as a goddess on Mahashtami. <br />'' <br />'' During Veerashtami Puja at Ancient Bagbazar Sarvajanin, Shimla Bayam Samiti of Kolkata, rituals are observed by playing sticks. During independence movement, stick games, swordplay and wrestling were part of the Puja rituals of the revolutionaries of Bengal. Veerashtami puja was closely associated with the freedom movement to encourage physical activity among the youth. Gradually it became a part of the worship.<br />