Durga Puja of Bengal is not just a festival, there is also a mythological story behind it, Let’s know about it.
Navratri and Durga Puja are very important festivals for Maa Durga devotees. Shardiya Navratri is going on at this time and devotees of Maa Durga celebrate it with great pomp and show. This festival lasting for nine days is celebrated in different ways all over India, like most people install the idol of Maa Durga in their homes, in Gujarat people install the idol of Maa Ambe in their homes and Garba and Dandiya are organized for nine nights, while Durga Puja is very famous in Bengal, which is celebrated with great pomp and show in other states along with Bengal.
The design of these pandals depicts the events happening around the world throughout the year through lighting and decoration. Preparations for making and decorating these pandals start many months in advance. There is also competition among the organizers. There are many such committees in Kolkata for which one has to wait in line for hours to visit.
Birth of Goddess Durga
Goddess was born to kill the Mahisasur. Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, had given Mahisasur a boon that neither any god nor any human could kill him, but he considered women weak and hence forgot them. Now after getting this boon, he started troubling all the gods. Troubled by this, all went to Lord Brahma to get rid of him. Lord Brahma agreed to their words and Devi Durga was born. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva gave their powers to the Devi.
A fierce battle took place between the demon and the goddess. This battle lasted for 10 days. Mahisasur transformed himself into a buffalo to show his powers, but the goddess won over the demon and beheaded him. This battle lasted for 10 days. That is why Durga Puja is celebrated for 10 days and the last day is Vijay Dashami, which means victory of good over evil.
Significance of Durga Puja in Bengal
According to mythology, Durga Puja is said to be a symbol of Goddess Durga going to her maternal home with her children. Before the Puja begins, Mahalaya is celebrated to mark the arrival of Goddess Durga at her home. Durga Puja begins on the seventh day of Navratri, i.e. Mahasaptami or Saptami. On this day, the Goddess is welcomed with pomp and gaiety. All the devotees are made to see the Goddess on this day. The Goddess is welcomed with great enthusiasm and drums are played.
On the day of Mahasaptami, a banana tree is immersed in water before dawn and after that, the banana tree or Kola Bau is wrapped in a red bordered sari and placed near Ganesha. This Kola Bau is known as the wife of Ganesha but some historians and revisionists do not believe this, they have different views. Mahashtami is celebrated as the victory of the mother over Mahisasur. On this day, the Goddess killed the Mahisasur. Special prayers are offered on this day. In many places, feasts and bhandaras are organized and various types of dishes are prepared.
The ninth day is celebrated as Ramanavami. On this day Maha Aarti is performed as the concluding puja. On this day huge crowd of devotees gather to participate in Maha Aarti.
Tenth Day or Mahadashmi is also known as Vijayadashami. On this day the Goddess is bid farewell and she is immersed. But before the immersion, married women offer vermilion to the Goddess and married women also apply vermilion to each other, which is also called Sindoor Khela in Bengal. This event is organized with great pomp and show. The sounds of bhajans and chants resonate everywhere. With this the Goddess is immersed and she is bid farewell.
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