Manikpur village in Karimganj district of Assam is just like any other village in India apart from the fact that in the month of Ashwin, which corresponds to September–October the entire village comes together to celebrate the Goddess Durga. But what marks the difference is that the Durga Puja is celebrated in no man's land.

Every year along this India-Bangladesh border residents of Manikpur village organize Puja at a Durga temple located between India and Bangladesh. As per the myth among locals, the temple was built more than 150 years ago. However, during the partition, the temple fell outside of India's territory. Now the area has been barbed wired and stands protected by the Border Security Force.

Brief history

The temple was a part of the property of a landlord named Narendra Malakar. The Durga Temple is believed to have been established by Malakar’s forefathers almost 150 years back. They were landlords during the British period and Durga Puja used to be a week-long celebration. Narendra Malakar died a few years after Independence and the family reduced the size of the celebration. When the last decedent of the family, Hriday Ranjan Malakar died in 1994, the puja was officially stopped.

It had been long forgotten until it was uncovered again by the BSF. In a demarcation drive during the 2000s, a border was drawn between the house and the Durga Temple of Narendra Malakar. The area came under fencing in 2008 and a year later BSF jawans discovered the temple. The temple was half broken and BSF officials with the help of the villagers reconstructed it.  Since then Durga Puja is celebrated where BSF officials also take part spontaneously.

During the Durga Puja days, the BSF keeps the border gate open from 5 am to 10 pm every day and allows only devotees to enter. A local committee has also been formed to take care of the temple along with help of BSF officials.

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कोई सरहद ना इन्हें रोके

सरहदें इन्सानों के लिए हैं

सोचो तुमने और मैने क्या पाया इन्सां हो के

-       Javed Akhtar