By Nidhi Kumari
It is said that Maa Durga visits her maternal home with her sons – Ganesh and Karthik along with her sisters – Lakshmi and Saraswati during Durga Puja which runs collateral to Navratra. The deities are welcomed by the devotees amidst the sound of dhol, dhaak, dhunichi, dance, and a desire in their hearts that this time Maa shall fulfil their wishes and bless them all.
Durga Puja is predominantly celebrated in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Assam during Navratra.
Maa Durga is invited through mantras, shlokas and extensive puja commencing from the 6th day or shashthi, wherein the ‘bel bharni puja’ is performed by the purohits. Post that, the Saptami Puja is conducted wherein devotees throng Puja pandals in huge numbers seeking the divine blessings.
The eighth day of Durga ashtami has immense significance, which concludes with the ‘sandhi puja’. It is said that Maa Durga’s avtar Chamunda killed the demons Chand-Mund, relieving everyone from the horrors of the devil. The evil rakshas Mahishasura who disguised himself as a buffalo was also annihilated by Maa Durga’s trishul (trident), signifying the victory of virtue over vice. Many believe that on this day, the deity opens her third eye showering her blessings on her bhatks. A lot of devotees observe fast. Many also invite little, young girls (personification of Durga roop) and perform ‘Kumari puja’, offering the ‘Kumaris’ – halwa, puris, chana, dahi, mithai, among others as a form of bhog or prasad.
The navami or the ninth day of Durga Puja is again, filled with the beautiful mesmerising aura, accompanied with vibrancy and positivity in the air. The ‘shradhaalus’ immerse themselves into the eyes and arms of the deities forgetting their worries – praying and dancing in full fervour.
“I feel privileged and grateful to Maa Durga for letting me have the opportunity to offer my prayers to Her. It is unusually delightful to see how the people soak in and surrender themselves completely to the feet of the deity; it is surreal and beautiful,” said Pandit Deepak Bharadwaj Mathpati, who has been performing Durga Puja for the last 3 years at Trikuti Durgotsav.
Pandit Deepak Bharadwaj Mathpati
The dashmi or the tenth day’s highlight of the puja – is the ‘Sindoor khela’, where women apply vermilion to the Goddesses and Gods. On a shubh mahurat, the deities bid adieu – filling tears in the eyes of many, with a promise to come back again next year, with devotees chanting – “agle baras abaar hobe”.
Needless to say that the 5-days of the festivity etch sweet memories and instil in our hearts a ray of hope, that our hardwork will bear fruits, that our unfulfilled wishes will come true, and that the deity blesses us all.
(Photos by – Taknimator).
Dashmi is also known as Dussehra – the remarkable day on which Shri Ram killed Ravana – again the victory of good over evil. This day sees people decked in new clothes accumulating to witness – giant Ravan effigies being burnt by young artists decked as lord Ram accompanied by crowd cheers and hooting, expressing their jubilance. There are arrangements of stalls, fair, joyride and delectable food that makes this day even more special.
Durga Puja- amidst dhol, dhak, dhunuchi and devotion added by Indian newspaper Sydney on
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