Durga Puja

Durga Puja is a Hindu celebration of the Mother Goddess and the victory of the revered warrior Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. The festival honors the powerful female force (shakti) in the Universe.

Durga Puja, also called Durgotsava, is an annual Hindu festival originating in the Indian subcontinent which reveres and pays homage to the Hindu goddess, Durga.

It is particularly popular in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Tripura, and Odisha, the country of Bangladesh, and the diaspora from this region, and also in Nepal, where it is celebrated as Dashain. The festival is observed in the Indian calendar month of Ashwin, which corresponds to the months of September-October in the Gregorian calendar and is a ten-day festival of which the last five are of significance. 

The Durga Puja festival is an extremely social and theatrical event. Drama, dance, and cultural performances are widely held.

Food is a huge part of the festival, and street stalls blossom all over Kolkata. In the evenings, the streets of Kolkata fill with people, who come to admire the statues of Goddess Durga, eat, and celebrate.

Durga Puja as per Hindu Mythology: - To destroy the Mahisasura demon, the energy of all Kings and Gods are collected as an embodiment shakti in the form of Feminine power. Mahisasura was blessed that any man or God cannot defeat him. So, to defeat him the feminine power in the form of Maa Durga, the ultimate power emerged.

In Kolkata the powerful Shakti Maa Durga is celebrated and highly revered. Her return is celebrated with Grandeur and ceremonies. If you are in Kolkata, you will feel and observe the fascinating preparations even one months before the celebration. One week prior to the festival, the city of Joy gears up and eagerness and excitement will be observed to welcome the Goddess Durga in home.

Few events of Durga Puja: -

1. Chokkhu Daan - The day when Eyes of Durga is painted.

2. The ritual of Pran Pratishtha - Kala Bou Bath - On the seventh day a ritual of invoking Goddess presence in the Idol. A banana Plant is taken to any river or water pool to be bathed and then dressed in a red bordered saree and taken back to the pandal and kept near the idol.

3. Sindhur Khel - On Dashami day, before Idol going for Bisarjan, the ladies offer sweets and Sindhur to the Goddess and then they start Sindhur Khela - ladies colored each other with red colored Sindhur.

Important Dates: -

20th October 2023, Friday - Mahashashthi. 21st October 2023, Saturday - Mahasaptami

22nd October 2023, Sunday - Mahastami 23rd October 2023, Monday - Mahanavami

24th October 2023, Tuesday - Vijaya Dashami.