DURGA PUJA

दुर्गा puja

THE FESTIVAL NAVARATRI

Durga Puja is one of the most important festivals in India. Durga Puja is more than a festival; it is a celebration of life, culture, popular customs and traditions. It is a time of reunion and rejuvenation to love, to share and to care. This festival provides a perfect platform to every Indian with rich cultural ethos and values to organize them selves under a roof. Durga Puja is an important Hindu Festival celebrated all over India with different rituals and festivities. It is celebrated in the month of September/October every year.

The excited festivity is omnipresent during Durga Puja throughout India, specifically in East-India particularly in West Bengal.

The beautiful idols of the ten headed but fierce goddess on her lion is worshipped with great enthusiasm.
This festival is also known as ' Navaratri ' .



TIME OF THE YEAR

Durga puja is celebrated in the autumn months of September/October. According to the Hindu solar calendar, it falls on the first nine days of the month of Ashvin. It is the time of the year when the weather is at its moderate best giving the air a festive touch.



AARTI OF GODDESS DURGA


Jai Ambe Gauri, Mayya Jai Shyama Gauri
Tumko Nish-Din Dhyavat, Hari Brahma Shivri- Jai Ambe Gauri
Maang Sindoor Virajat, Tiko Mrig-Mad Ko
Ujjwal Se Dou Naina, Chandra Vadan Niko- Jai Ambe Gauri
Kanak Samaan Kalewar, Raktaambar Raaje
Rakt Pushp Gal-Mala, Kanthan Par Saaje -Jai Ambe Gauri
Kehri Vahan Rajat, Kharag Khapar DhaariSur Nar Muni Jan Sevat,
Tinke Dukh Haari - Jai Ambe Gauri
Kanan Kundal Shobhit , Naas-Agre Moti
Kotik Chandra Divakar, Sum Rajat Jyoti - Jai Ambe Gauri
Shumbh Ni-Shumbh Vidare, Mahisha Sur Ghati
Dhumra-Vilochan Naina, Nish-Din Mad Mati- Jai Ambe Gauri
Chandh Mundh Sangh-Haare, Shonit Beej Hare
Madhu Kaitabh Dou Maare, Sur Bhe Heen Kare- Jai Ambe Gauri
Brahmani Rudrani, Tum Kamla Rani
Aagam Nigam Bakhani, Tum Shiv Patrani - Jai Ambe Gauri
Chon-Sath Yogini Gavat, Nritya Karat Bhairon
Baajat Taal Mridanga, Aur Baajat Damaroo- Jai Ambe Gauri
Tum Ho Jag Ki Maata, Tum Hi Ho Bharta
Bhakto Ki Dukh Harata, Sukh Sampati Karata- Jai Ambe Gauri
Bhuja Chaar Ati Shobhit, Var Mudra Dhaari
Man Vaanchit Phal Pavat, Sevat Nar Naari- Jai Ambe Gauri
Kanchan Thaal Virajat, Agar Kapoor Baati
Shri Maal-Ketu Me Rajat, Kotik Ratan Jyoti- Jai Ambe Gauri
Shri Ambe-Ji-Ki Aarti, Jo Koi Nar Gaave
Kahat Shivanand Swami, Sukh Sampati Paave- Jai Ambe Gauri

THE CELEBRATIONS

The inauguration starts on Mahashasthi। The main puja is for three days

- Mahasaptami, Mahaastami, & Mahanavami.
Three days of Mantras and Shlokas and Arati
and offerings - needs an expert priest
to do this kind of Puja.

Because of these facts, the number of Pujas
held in the family has reduced and Durga Puja
has mostly emerged as a community festival.
The city of Kolkata takes a different look during
these three days, especially at night.

Millions of people come to the city and line up
before the pandals. The streets are lighted and
the electricians display all different kind of
light shows. The restaurants are packed and
numerous temporary food stalls are opened
though out the city.

Schools, colleges, offices remain closed during these four days. Bengalis in other cities in India visit their relatives in West Bengal. After the three days of Puja, on Dashami, on the last day, a tearful farewell is offered to the Goddess. The idols are carried in processions around the locality and finally are immersed in a nearby river or lake. Bengalis all over the world celebrate this great event of their culture.

BIJJOYA DASHAMI

Coinciding with Dussehra is bijoya dashami, the last day of the Pujas. Married women bid farewell to the Mother Goddess through various rituals, entreating her to come back every year. The playful ritual called sindoor khela during which women smear each other’s hair, faces and bangles with vermilion powder, breaks the solemnity of the occasion. Later, all the idols are taken to nearby rivers or ponds to be immersed. To an outsider, this might seem like a colossal waste, but don’t forget, this also ensures idol makers never go out of business.

Festivals in India are occasions to catch up with friends and relatives, and this festival is no different. The evening of bijoya dashami is reserved for spending time with friends and family, with youngsters touching the feet of the elders as a mark of respect. A description of bijoya dashami is incomplete without mentioning the mouth-watering delicacies like sweets and nimkis (a crispy treat made of flour) that are prepared by the women of the house.

Significance of Durga Pooja Festival

Durga is an incarnation of power the resides in every element of this universe. The literary meaning of ‘Durga’ is ‘difficult to approach’. Being Durga, Goddess Durga is the embodiment of intelligence, power, wealth, beauty and mercy that is creator, preserver and destroyer of this universe.

During Durga Puja festival, nine different forms of Goddess Durga is worshipped। The whole image of ten-headed and multi-armed mother goddess riding on a Lion is shown destroying buffalo-demon Mahishasura। This image signifies the victory of Good over Evil and also tells to invoke divinity by controlling the senses to get diverted to bad habits.


Durga Pooja festival is a celebration of life and its traditional and valuable culture।

Durga Puja In Orissa

Worship to the goddess of power is celebrated by the entire Hindu fraternity in general and Bengalis in particular in the form of Durga puja. The festival takes place in the month of Aswin or Kartik i.e. September and October according to the English calendar. An aggravated festive spirit engulfs every one as the ten armed image of the beautiful yet fierce goddess is erected in the puja pandal.

The clay idol of the goddess is decorated with immaculate decorative pieces, tiny lights and beautiful flowers. The goddess sitting on a lion is shown killing the 'Buffalo Demon'- Mahishasura accompanied by her two sons, Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya, and two daughters Goddess Laxmi and Saraswati presents a really powerful picture standing true to its synonym 'Goddess of Power.' The arti ceremony that takes place early every morning and evening is a grand affair where the praises of the goddess are sung describing her gumption and valor. The sweet fragrance of incense adds to the charm.

And Orissa being a Hindu state also observes this festival with a great pomp and show. Though Durga Puja is celebrated in the month of October, celebrations start weeks ahead. The entire state strikes a different chord altogether echoing the music of bonhomie, brotherhood and festivity.

The ceremony continues for three days with the immersion ceremony following on the fourth day. The images are taken in a huge procession to the nearest river or tank and are immersed there with loud music being played in the background. Youth bows down to the elders after this to seek blessings and be blessed with power like the goddess.

GODDESS DURGA PHOTOS

(Golden Goddess Durga)



















(Hindu Goddess Durga)























(Maa Durga)























(Sherawali Maa Durga)