Who is Nandini Bhowmik, India's first female Durga Puja priestess?
Dr Nandini Bhowmik, a Sanskrit scholar and Indologist from Kolkata, is a pioneering female priest challenging patriarchal traditions in Indian weddings and Durga Puja rituals. As co-founder of Shubhamastu, she and her team of women priests conduct ceremonies that highlight gender equality, revising and omitting outdated practices to create inclusive, meaningful, and progressive celebrations.