{"id":27226,"date":"2017-09-25T08:44:09","date_gmt":"2017-09-25T06:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/no-problem-mam.com\/?p=27226"},"modified":"2021-10-11T09:29:34","modified_gmt":"2021-10-11T07:29:34","slug":"durga-puja-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/durga-puja-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Durga-Puja, the divine festival of Kolkata"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In West <\/strong>Bengal and its capital Kolkata,<\/strong> the great festival of Navaratri celebrating the Divine Mother is called Durga-Puja or Durgotsava (Durga Festival). It marks the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. During the festival the city is up all night, decked in lights and embellished with temporary temples vying to be the most inventive and creative.<\/strong>
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Durga-Puja is not only a religious festival; its social and cultural sides are important too. All social classes join in the celebrations. During the festivities Kolkata<\/a> draws tourists from all over India and far beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Origin of<\/strong> Durga-Puja<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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As with most festivals in India, the origins of Durga Puja lie in Hindu mythology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The demon king Mahishasura\u00a0had become invincible because, thanks to a favour granted him by Lord Shiva, no male could defeat him<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Durga goddess killing Mahishasura<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To put an end to the terror he was causing, the gods pooled all their powers and gave birth to Shakti (the primordial force) in the form of the goddess Durga who, not being male, was able to defeat and kill Mahishasura. That is why Durga is also called Mahishasuramardini, “killer of Mahishasura”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The battle symbolises the victory of good over evil and light over darkness.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Durga-Puja Highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Durga-Puja festival lasts five days, called respectively Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami<\/em> and Dashami<\/em><\/strong>. <\/em>The celebrations start on Shashti (the sixth day of Navaratri) and end on Dashami (the tenth day).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

D 0 = Mahalaya – Durga comes to earth
D 1 = Navaratri <\/a>starts (during 9 days)
D 6 = Shashti, Durga-Puja starts \/ 6th day of Navaratri
D 7 = Saptami, 2nd day of Durga-Puja \/ 7th day of Navaratri
D 8 = Ashtami, 3rd day of Durga-Puja \/ 8th day of Navaratri
D 9 = Navami, 4th day of Durga Puja \/ 9th day of Navaratri
D10 = Dashami, final day of Durga Puja \/ Vijayadhashami, Navaratri ends<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Goddess Durga in one of the amazing pandals of Kolkata<\/em><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to Hindu mythology, the goddess Durga came to earth on Mahalaya (one day before Navaratri) to kill Mahishasura.<\/strong> Mahalaya marks the end of Pitru Paksha<\/em>, the period dedicated to the ancestors, and the start of Devi Paksha<\/em>, the period for worshipping the goddess. It is also said that the gods in the heavens stay awake throughout this period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The clay statues of Durga have to be ready for the start of Devi Paksha;<\/em> their eyes are painted in on the day of Mahalaya in a ritual called Chakshu Daan<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Another beautiful pandal of Kolkata<\/em><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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BODHON, BRINGING DURGA TO LIFE<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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On Shashti<\/em>, the first day of the Durga Puja celebrations, a ceremony called Bodhon <\/em>or Akaal Bodhan<\/em><\/strong> is held. It symbolically brings the Durga statue to life and marks the start of the festival.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bodhon ritual <\/em><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The word akaal<\/em> is made up of a <\/em>(“not”) and kaal<\/em> (“time”). Bodhan<\/em> means “worship” or “invocation”. So Akaal Bodhan means to worship Durga outside the customary time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The usual time for worshipping Durga, as laid down by the Hindu sacred scriptures, is in the month of Chaitra (March-April) and is called Basanti Durga Puja<\/em>. But it is not much practiced and the September-October worship, called Sharadiya<\/em> (autumn) Durga Puja is preferred.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason for celebrating Navaratri in autumn is that in Hindu mythology, it was autumn when Lord Rama prayed for Mother Durga’s blessing before the final battle against Ravana (see above).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[ Watch! Bodhon ceremony in Kolkata ]<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n