Now Durga Pooja is very much near so its urgently required to put more details of pooja date, pooja process, regional values etc. Also we should start for diwali...
‘Durga Pooja’, the words that runs a thrill in every heart and body of a Bengali is the immensely cherished occasion much awaited throughout the year. Though the essence of this auspicious festival starts from the eastern part of the country (West Bengal), it spreads across every region and religion binding them with a common fervor of celebration.
According to the lunar movements in Hindu Bengali calendar, Durga pooja falls in the autumn months of September/ October. Though the preparations like buying new clothes and setting up and decoration of pandals starts a month ago or before, the celebration mood commences with the Mahalaya, seven days before the main pooja. Mahalaya is the heralding note for the homecoming of Ma Durga as the air gets heavy with the soothing fragrance of shefali flowers and river banks covered with milky white kash grasses.
There are various mythical and religious stories backing the reason for Durga Pooja. Where on one hand it is said that the Adda Shakti was invoked by the trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara to rescue heaven and Gods from the atrocities of demon Mahisasura and so is one of the names of Durga ‘Mahisasura Mardini.’ The other states that it was the time when God Rama invoked her to seek blessings to win over Ravana and is called ‘Akalbodhon’. ;so termed because it is believed to be an uncustomary time of her appearance on earth as conventionally spring is the right time to worship the Goddess, when it is known as Basanti pooja. Tradition also speaks that shorod (autumn) is the time when Ma Durga comes to her father, Himalaya’s abode along with her sons Ganesha and Kartikeya and daughters Laxmi and Saraswati.
Be that as it may but the motif is to rejoice, bask in the culture, spirituality and ultimately ‘eat, drink and be merry’. The four days viz. saptami, ashtami, navami and dashami are enjoyed with utmost zeal and verve. Relatives and friends gather and a feeling of togetherness warm up the atmosphere. Wearing that exclusive dress each day, visiting every pandal to see the idols and partying till the wee hours of night revives all that zing in life which people tends to loose in their daily chores.
The last day of the event is Bijoy Dashami or Dusshera. Married women prepare special sweet dishes for their beloved Mother like naru, takti etc, offers it to her and smear other women with vermillion. The day ends with Visarjan i.e. immersing the idol in river or pond which, however, starts with an enthusiastic possession of the idol till the river bank but bidding adieu leaves behind a sense of emotional loss in everyone with the only hope that our Ma will return again the next year with all her blessings and love.
‘Durga Pooja’, the words that runs a thrill in every heart and body of a Bengali is the immensely cherished occasion much awaited throughout the year. Though the essence of this auspicious festival starts from the eastern part of the country (West Bengal), it spreads across every region and religion binding them with a common fervor of celebration.
According to the lunar movements in Hindu Bengali calendar, Durga pooja falls in the autumn months of September/ October. Though the preparations like buying new clothes and setting up and decoration of pandals starts a month ago or before, the celebration mood commences with the Mahalaya, seven days before the main pooja. Mahalaya is the heralding note for the homecoming of Ma Durga as the air gets heavy with the soothing fragrance of shefali flowers and river banks covered with milky white kash grasses.
There are various mythical and religious stories backing the reason for Durga Pooja. Where on one hand it is said that the Adda Shakti was invoked by the trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara to rescue heaven and Gods from the atrocities of demon Mahisasura and so is one of the names of Durga ‘Mahisasura Mardini.’ The other states that it was the time when God Rama invoked her to seek blessings to win over Ravana and is called ‘Akalbodhon’. ;so termed because it is believed to be an uncustomary time of her appearance on earth as conventionally spring is the right time to worship the Goddess, when it is known as Basanti pooja. Tradition also speaks that shorod (autumn) is the time when Ma Durga comes to her father, Himalaya’s abode along with her sons Ganesha and Kartikeya and daughters Laxmi and Saraswati.
Be that as it may but the motif is to rejoice, bask in the culture, spirituality and ultimately ‘eat, drink and be merry’. The four days viz. saptami, ashtami, navami and dashami are enjoyed with utmost zeal and verve. Relatives and friends gather and a feeling of togetherness warm up the atmosphere. Wearing that exclusive dress each day, visiting every pandal to see the idols and partying till the wee hours of night revives all that zing in life which people tends to loose in their daily chores.
The last day of the event is Bijoy Dashami or Dusshera. Married women prepare special sweet dishes for their beloved Mother like naru, takti etc, offers it to her and smear other women with vermillion. The day ends with Visarjan i.e. immersing the idol in river or pond which, however, starts with an enthusiastic possession of the idol till the river bank but bidding adieu leaves behind a sense of emotional loss in everyone with the only hope that our Ma will return again the next year with all her blessings and love.
