|
Durga Puja is the national festival of the Hindus. It falls in the month of
Aswin or Kartik according to the Hindu calendar. It is performed during the nine
days of Navratri. Durga Puja is said to be the most important festival of
Bengalis and is very close to every Bengalis heart and soul.
Durga Puja is associated with a legendary story, once a mighty demon
Mahishasur vanquished the gods and their king, Indra who approached the holy
trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, they decided to destroy the demon and prayed
to divine mother Durga, who equipped with lethal weapons, riding a ferocious
lion. The goddess in all her majesty, killed Mahishasur.
During Durga Puja beautiful idols of the mother goddess are worshipped in
elaborate Pandals for nine days, and on the last day the idols are taken in
elaborate processions for immersion in the river on the sea, slowly the
beautiful images worshipped for many days, sink. Durga Puja is a celebration of
life, culture, popular customs and traditions. It marks that evil has been
vanquished and creation can leave in peace.
|
