Of India's grandest festivals, Durga Puja stands as a celebration deeply rooted in the country's cultural and spiritual fabric. The festival commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasura and symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
The Durga Puja, celebrated over a period of five days—Shasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami. Durga Puja is not really a religious festival celebrated to such a great extent but has made its way to stand out as one grand pageant of art, devotion, and rejoicing.
The legend of Durga Puja revolves around the demon Mahishasura who, through penance for years together, gained a boon from Lord Brahma that made him almost invincible.He then began to maim and terrorize the heavens and earth until the gods in desperation invoked the supreme power of Goddess Durga. The collective energies of the gods gave birth to a mighty version of Shakti, armed to the teeth, to kill Mahishasura.
The fighting went on for nine days, and it was on the tenth that Durga killed him. This day is called Vijayadashami or Dussehra and is considered to signify the victory of good over evil.
The celebration of Durga Puja has immense fervor, spanning parts of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, and parts of Odisha, but has an influence all over India and across the globe.
The festival doesn't simply mean celebrating the goddess; it's all about celebrating life, culture, and community. During Durga Puja, a time for getting together with families and friends, people wear their finest attire in traditional style to pray, enjoy cultural programs, and indulge in festive delicacies.
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During the puja, government offices, colleges, and schools are closed. Soon after Mahalaya, they go shopping for the puja. The majority of stores give discounts on clothing and other items during this time of year. Men typically dress in Kurta pajamas on "Maha Ashtami," while ladies cover up with sarees.
Different locations host cultural events, and puja pandals with a theme drive competition amongst organizers. Every pandal at Durga Puja tells a tale through its artwork and design, which is what makes it so beautiful. People form long lines merely to get inside the pandal to view the beautiful decor and artwork.
While restaurants make special Durga Puja dishes, food booths are set up in every possible place. To bring out the festive spirit, various lights are used to decorate the streets. To manage the traffic, more police officers are sent out than usual.
The largest celebration for the Bengali community is Durga Puja. A family get-together is required for the holiday, in addition to the festivities. It's a moment when people put aside their disagreements and unite to celebrate oneness. More specifically, Durga Puja honors the human soul and goes beyond religious bounds.
This festival is also one of the biggest holidays celebrated across the country, and the celebration lasts for more than a week. Each and every day has its own special significance, and different activities are carried out each and every day.
Maha Shashti is said to be the day when Goddess Durga came down to earth with her 4 children, namely Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Laxmi, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya.
The eve of Maha Shashti is when the face of the idol of Goddess Durga is unveiled. The rituals performed on that particular day are 'Amontron', 'Bodhon', and 'Adhibash'. The drums called 'Dhaak' are banged everywhere as a way of indicating the arrival of Goddess Durga.
At the eve of Maha Saptami, the Maha puja is conducted. Just before the sunrise, a banana tree is submerged in holy water, and it is then covered with new saree like newlywed woman.
This ritual is called 'Kola bou' or 'Nabapatrika'. A banana tree is kept with the idol of Goddess Durga. Nine plants are kept, which represent the 9 forms of Goddess Durga.
Maha Ashtami is considered to be the day of Goddess Durga killing Mahishasura, also known as the 'Buffalo devil'. In the olden days, a buffalo was sacrificed to mark the occasion.
Hymns are chanted in Sanskrit and people offer their prayers. The prayers are known as 'Anjali'. Girls less than 9 years are depicted as Goddess Durga and are worshiped. This ritual is called 'Kumari puja'. This is followed by the 'Sandhi puja'.
This is the last day of puja and would represent the victory of Maa Durga over Mahishasura good triumphing over evil. The day is marked by *Maha Aarti*, where devotees spend their time in special prayers and offerings to the goddess, thanking her for her blessings. Music, dance, and feasts go with the celebrations in her glory.
On Maha Dashami's eve, the idol of Goddess Durga is immersed in River Ganges' holy water. Before immersion, processions are carried out by the worshipers on trucks with the beating of drums, which is accompanied by singing and dancing. During the procession, vermillion is thrown at each other by married women. In the evening, everybody visits each other's houses and greets 'Vijoy Dashmi'. Special dishes are also prepared.
