— banglakhabor
Durga Puja History, Celebration and Puja Vidhi
Goddess Durga fought with the fiend (asura) for 10 days and after such grand battle, she exterminate the shape-fitting and deceptive buffalo demon Mahishasura who wanted to rule over the world and make mother earth a hell. Therefore nine days with each different figure of goddess Durga is adored and people fast & rejoice this as a big festival.
At the end of the festival i.e. on the tenth day, the idol is immersed in water and desired to visit subsequentl year with immense devotion. People fast for these nine days by believing the goddess Durga will shower all love and fertility in one’s life. This festival is held to eradicate all the negativities and bring optimistic energies.
1. Devi Shail Putri 2. Brahmachari 3. Chandraghanta 4. Kushmanda 5. Skandmata 6. Katyayini 7. Kaalratri 8. Mahagauri 9. Siddhidaatri
This fiesta is celebrated all over the country and is considered as the major festival in Hindu tradition. Particularly it is famous in West Bengal, Tripura, Assam, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Bangladesh. In Nepal, it is called as Dashain. It is the foremost festival of Shaktism tradition across the country in Hindu custom.
According to archaeological record, scriptures and manuscripts, Durga Puja is a primeval celebration and has been through many ages. It has its state in Rigveda and Atharvaveda hymns. At Mahabharata times Yudhishthira and Arjuna were said to be the worshipper of the goddess and has a prominent mention. Similarly, in Puranas, it has considerable citing. Kings and queens also had made many temples of goddess Durga and are still inherent as part of history.
– At the first day, a huge beautifully crafted icon of Maa Durga is installed in decorated Podiums all over the city and at homes, the worship area is cleaned and a Kalash (URN) is put in as a symbol of the goddess. – At the end of the celebration, a huge rally is paraded in the city to provide an opportunity for devotees to see deity once. Disciples dance, enjoy and gratify the divinity and then immerse idol in water.
People wear traditional clothes during Durga Puja. Clean and new clothes are worn during the prayers and daily early morning bath is taken. Women wear saris and dress with all ornaments which are a symbol of her marriage and men wear Kurta Pyjama.
Although this festival is of goddess Durga other gods are also worshipped in this festival. God Ganesh, Kartikeya, and goddess Lakshmi are also offered prayers during this time. Let us move on how to offer prayers to the goddess in these holy days-