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Durga Puja is celebrated by the Hindus and the Bengalis.
Durga Puja is celebrated on the last five days of Navarathri in the month of Ashwin as per the Hindu calendar.
Significance
Durga Puja is celebrated in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Orissa and Tripura with great joy and fun. This is one of the main festivals of the Bengalis and is celebrated for almost 5 days. Durga Puja is more than being a festival. It is the festival of culture, life, popular traditions and customs.
In Sanskrit the word 'Durga' means one who is incomprehensible. Goddess Durga who is a great form of power is worshipped for her terrifying feature and her gracious nature. She is called the 'Mother of the Universe' as she represents the immeasurable power of the entire universe. She is a symbol of female energy. Durga is also well-known by other names such as the Parvati, Kali and Ambika. As Parvati she is the divine consort of Lord Shiva, mother of two sons Kartikeya and Ganesh and one daughter Joyti.
The worship of Goddess Durga is done in autumn and is the biggest Hindu festival of the Bengalis. This festival is celebrated which epitomizes the victory of Durga over the evil buffalo demon. This victory is symbolic of the universal victory of good over evil. As per the legends, the evil Mahishasura defeated gods and their respected king Indra, who had approached the blessed Trinity Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. They asked for help from the Goddess Durga. She with her lethal weapons, riding a ferocious lion with all her majesty killed the demon Mahishasura.
During this festival people worship 9 different forms of Durga Maa. The idol has 10 heads and multi arms that are riding on a Lion, destroying the buffalo-headed Mahishasura. This festival is celebrated with fun and love for the Goddess Durga.
Celebration of Durga Puja
Durga Puja is widely-celebrated in all parts of India. There are huge pandals where the beautiful idols of the Goddess are placed in huge wooden structures. The first day of Durga Puja is termed as the Mahalaya, as it is the beginning of the Durga Puja. The face of the idol is covered with a cloth and is shown on the sixth day after completing the tradition of Sasthi.
Many women observe fast for these nine days for the welfare of their families. There are social and cultural gathering during these days as people want/desire for some sort of entertainment during this festival. On the 10th day known as the Vijay Dashami, the idol is immersed in water after completing the rituals. There is a huge procession for Vijay Dashami as there are many band troupes and people dancing in front of the procession.
Traditional food
Durga Puja is celebrated for ten days. So there are varieties of dishes that are prepared on these days. Some of the famous dishes are as follows:
Rasgulla, sondesh, luchi and mishit doi- these are the sweet dishes. There are some vegetarian dishes also. They are known as Alur Dom, fulkopir vada, puri, bhaat and moog dal.
People celebrate this festival twice a year that is, once in the month of Chaitra and the other is celebrated in the month of Ashwin. The Bengalis enjoy this festival as it has a great impact on their lives. It is celebrated almost in all the states of India with great faith and enthusiasm.
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