Durga Puja is one of the most significant and widely celebrated festivals in India, particularly in the states of West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, and Tripura. It honors the powerful Hindu goddess Durga and marks the triumph of good over evil. Celebrated with immense enthusiasm, the festival not only has religious importance but also cultural and social significance.
Durga Puja usually falls in the month of Ashwin (September-October) and lasts for five to ten days. The celebration commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of good over evil and the restoration of peace and harmony in the world. According to Hindu mythology, Mahishasura was a demon who terrorized both heaven and earth, and none of the gods could defeat him. The gods, in their desperation, created Durga, who embodied their collective power. She fought a fierce battle and ultimately vanquished Mahishasura, establishing divine justice. The festivities of Durga Puja start with Mahalaya, an auspicious day when devotees invite the goddess to descend on Earth. The main celebration, however, takes place during the last five days: Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami.
Shashthi
Shashthi marks the beginning of the main Durga Puja festivities. On this day, the idol of Goddess Durga is formally unveiled in the pandals (temporary structures for the puja). This ritual is called Bodhan, where it is believed that Goddess Durga descends to Earth from her celestial abode with her children—Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya.
1. Kalparambha: The day begins with the Kalparambha ritual, which is a preliminary ritual that signifies the beginning of the puja.
2. Amantran and Adhibas: These rituals symbolize the formal invocation of the goddess. The priests invite her spirit into the clay idol through sacred prayers and chants.
Shashthi is a day of preparation, as pandals get crowded with devotees eager to witness the beauty of the idols for the first time. The goddess is often depicted as a warrior goddess slaying the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.
Saptami
Saptami is the day when the actual worship of Goddess Durga begins. The main ritual of this day is Nabapatrika, a ceremonial procession involving nine plants that represent the goddess and her different forms. The Nabapatrika, also called Kola Bou or the “banana bride,” is tied with a yellow sari and is bathed in the river early in the morning before being placed near Durga’s idol.
Pran Pratishtha: This ritual involves invoking life into the idols of the goddess and her children. The priests chant mantras to invite the divine power into the idols.
Puja and Aarti: After the Pran Pratishtha, the main puja begins, involving the offering of flowers, fruits, and sweets, along with the chanting of hymns and the playing of the traditional drums called dhak.
Saptami is a day of joy and celebration, with devotees participating in prayers and spending time visiting pandals, often dressed in traditional attire.
Ashtami
Ashtami is considered the most auspicious and significant day of Durga Puja. It is the day when Goddess Durga is believed to have killed the demon Mahishasura after a fierce battle. The most important ritual on Ashtami is the Sandhi Puja, performed at the precise juncture when Ashtami ends, and Navami begins.
Kumari Puja: In some places, young prepubescent girls are worshipped as embodiments of the goddess in a ritual called Kumari Puja. They are considered to represent the virgin form of the goddess.
Anjali: Devotees offer pushpanjali (offering of flowers) to the goddess and seek her blessings.
Sandhi Puja: This ritual is performed in the evening and is particularly important. It is said that during this time, the goddess transformed into her ferocious form, Chamunda, to slay Mahishasura. The puja involves the offering of 108 lamps, 108 lotuses, and sacrifices (traditionally goats, though these days, symbolic offerings are made instead).
Ashtami is filled with devotion, and people fast, pray, and participate in the grand puja ceremonies, which are followed by feasts.
Navami
Navami, the last day of Durga’s battle with Mahishasura, marks the day of victory. The goddess is worshipped in her victorious form, and celebrations reach their peak.
Maha Aarti: A special aarti is conducted to honor the victory of Durga. This is considered a purification ritual and the final offering to the goddess before the conclusion of the festival.
Bhog and Prasad: Special bhog (offering) is prepared and distributed among devotees. In many places, a feast known as Maha Bhog is arranged, offering food to the goddess and later distributed as prasad to the worshippers.
On this day, people visit various pandals to seek blessings and participate in the grandeur of the festival. Cultural performances, like traditional dance and music, often accompany the religious rituals.
Dashami
Dashami, also known as Vijayadashami, is the day when Goddess Durga returns to her celestial home after staying on Earth for five days. This day symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and it is an emotional occasion as devotees bid farewell to the goddess.
Sindoor Khela: In Bengal, a unique ritual known as Sindoor Khela (play with vermilion) is observed, where married women apply sindoor (vermilion) to the idol and each other, wishing for long and prosperous married lives.
Visarjan: The idols of Durga and her children are immersed in rivers or other water bodies in a grand procession called visarjan. As the idols are taken for immersion, people chant “Bolo Durga Mai ki Jai” (Victory to Mother Durga) and pray for her return next year.
After the immersion, people greet each other with Shubho Bijoya (Happy Victory), marking the end of the festival and celebrating the goddess’s victory. It is also a day for family reunions, exchange of sweets, and visiting homes of loved ones.
