Durga Puja
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The Durga puja, a festival of the Hindus, is celebrated in the month of Ashwin or Kartik i.e. months of September and October according to the English calendar year. The pujas are held over a ten-day period, which is traditionally
viewed as the coming of the married daughter, Durga, to her father, Himalaya's home. It is the most important festival in Bengal, and Bengalis celebrate with new clothes and other gifts, which are worn on the evenings when the family goes out to see the pandals
(temporary structures set up to venerate the goddess). Although it is a Hindu festival, religion takes a backseat on these five days: Durga Puja in Bengal is a carnival, where people from all backgrounds, regardless of their religious beliefs, participate
and enjoy themselves to the hilt. The image of the ten headed, a beautiful but fierce goddess on her lion charger is worshipped with great gusto.
Legends of Durga Puja Festival
Durga is Shakti, the cosmic energy that animates all beings. According to a Puranic legend attached to this day, demon
Mahishasur vanquished the gods and their king, Indra, who approached the Holy Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. They in turn sought the help of the divine mother Durga who, equipped with lethal weapons, riding a ferocious lion, in all her awesome majesty,
killed Mahishasur. This day, thus, also celebrates the magnificence and omnipotence of Goddess Durga.Durga pooja is celebrated extensively in North India where beautiful idols of the Mother Goddess are worshipped in elaborate pandals for nine days
Durga pooja is celebrated extensively in North India where beautiful idols of the Mother Goddess are worshipped in elaborate pandals for nine days, and on the tenth day, these are carried out in procession for visarjan (immersion) in a river
or pond. The face of the goddess remains covered until the bodhon (unveiling) ritual is performed on
Sasthi - the sixth day of the moon.
The Goddess is worshipped as a kumari or young girl, and reveals herself in her true form Mahasaptami (the seventh day of the moon). On Mahastami (eighth day) and Mahanavami (ninth day) the celebrations reach a fever pitch.
On Dashami (tenth day) the idol of Durga is immersed in water. The ten-armed goddess dazzles the devotees with her splendour and appearance of fiery valour during her short stay every year.
Durga Puja is celebrated on a mass scale with puja pandals (marquees) dotting nearly every nook and corner of West Bengal.