File:Neta Bride.jpg

English: A number of small girls' in the age group of three to twelve hailing from the priests' society of Jagannath temple (the shown photo is of Khusi, my niece), worshipped Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati for getting good-looking husbands.

Clad in bridal costumes and glittering jewellery, the girls headed towards the sacred "Markanda Tank" for offering prayer to the deities, carrying five varieties of fruits and vegetables such as coconut, corn, banana and watermelon. After singing traditional hymns there, in praise of Lord Shiv, they offered the food items to the deity. Going by the age-old tradition the girls worship Shiva and Parvati for a happy conjugal life. Even though the girls are unaware of the concept of marriage,they were enjoying the practice like a game. They attracted the passers-by with their exquisite bridal get-up.

The practice of worshipping the deities has been prevalent since time immemorial. The traditional practice is known as neta puja. Every year the girls start the four-day-long ritual before the auspicious Durga puja. It was also believed that the puja would help them grow strong faith in Lord Jagannath. But now as things and mindsets have changed, the girls’ guardians carry on with this traditional ritual primarily to seek blessings for the tiny devotee’s good future.

The tiny girls are supposed to cover their whole body with gold and silver ornaments. The girls wear "paata" saris that were saved for the ritual for them by their ancestors. They also put on floral crowns to decorate their hair and wear arm and wristbands made of silver, much like an Odissi costume. The priests believe that their girls can maintain a hassle-free marital life by appeasing the god.