Durga Puja in Different Corners of the Globe

Durga Puja in Different Corners of the Globe

Since time immemorial man has been worshipping a supreme power. This power is sometimes called Shakti, Sristi, Iswari or something like that. In the Hindu scriptures Durga is the Divine Mother who is worshipped in various forms too. Sometimes she is called Durga, sometimes she is called the Adi Satkti Mahamaya and sometimes she is called Chandika. Actually all are immersed into one. The aspect is different.

Actually Durga is the only Goddess in the Hindu scripture who is worshipped in different forms. She is referred to as the Durgatiharini or the Woman who can remove our weal and woes, safeguards us amid all precarious states. As a result she is worshipped at every corner of the globe with the purpose of enjoying the essence of material prosperity. Without her blessings material gains are impossible.

Devi Durga is worshipped at every corner of the globe where the Bengalis live. The Bengali community waits all the year round when the days of the Durga Puja come. The worship of Durga means the evocation of the auspicious spirit to get the better of the evil spirit. Keeping the point in view not only the Bengalis but also the devotees of Durga arrange different pujas round the globe so that the evil force is exhausted for good from the surface of the earth.

 Mother Durga is worshipped with solemnity in different corners of our beautiful planet. The Bengalis and the other Indians who reside in different parts celebrate Durga puja with much fun fare. Even the people of the other nations never lag behind. They too come forward with the same zeal and enthusiasm. In the US Mother is worshipped in Arizona with active enthusiasm. In California too the people are beside themselves with joy when the arrival of mother is declared.

In Santa Barbera, Santiago, Lost Angeles, Colorado, in the counties of the UK, in Germany, Belgium and France in the countries of the Far East Mother is worshipped with heartfelt homage. Different cultural programs too are organized by the puja committees to sway the people in the melody of non stop glee.

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Durga Puja and the Bengalis

There is the frown of cyclone, the destruction of flood; the wink of recession in every corner of the globe yet Durga puja is always welcome in Bengal. There is poverty, there is humiliation, there is uncertainty yet the Durga puja comes every year in the gloomy corners of west Bengal and makes the people vibrant with mirth and glee. The people of Bengal wait with expectant eyes casting in the horizon when the time would come, the air would be filled with the smell of seuli and ponds would be colorful with the lotuses.

The Durga puja of four day gala celebrations in the month of autumn is celebrated with much enthusiasm in every corner of Bengal. The Bengalis for the four days are rich in all respect. There is the arrangement of dainty dishes in every house. There is new dress on every body whether young or old. There is no whip of poverty, no scourge of ill feelings. Bengalis for the four days are emperors in all respect.

Bengalis are romantic, people of other states opine. Yes there is the color of romanticism in all corners. In the decoration of pandals, in the illuminations of homes and streets, there is galore of enthusiasm at every aspect. The Bengalis gather together in new dress to savor the essence of the best of romanticism in every aspect round the clock for four consecutive days.

People forgetting he barriers of age and social strata flock together in the puja pandals to celebrate the days. It is the time of social get together as well as the reunion at home when the dear ones come back home after a long stay in the foreign lands to have the warmth of their own hearth. The Bengalis are rich for those four days  in all respect.

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Durgapuja in India

Durgapuja in India

On comes autumn and with it comes the festivity all over India. The blue sky, the kas flower, the golden sun beams all add essence to the festive moments. Everybody in Bengal and abroad are beside themselves with joy as mother Durga is about to come with her children or in various forms to shower peace and gaiety amid her sons and daughters who are torn with strife and misery round the year.  Mother comes to add balm to bruised hearts of her dear ones.

In Bengal the mother takes the domestic guise. She comes here to her father's house after the long sojourn in her husband's abode far away in the snow clad Kailash. Mother's such guise reminds us of an Indian woman who comes to her father's house with her sons and daughters after a long gap. In Bengal mother and the Bengali house wife is equated into one. But in other parts of India mother is worshipped in different guises.

All over India Navaratri is celebrated as a part of the Durga Puja. During this Navaratri or Nine Nights the goddess is worshipped in three forms, Durga, Saraswati and Laxmi. The three idols are worshipped to offer human being three important things, to revive the inner self, knowledge and wealth and all kinds of resources. On the 9th day of Navaratri the Ayudhya Puja is celebrated. On this occasion the tools and instruments that are used for cultivation are worshipped.

On the tenth day the Vijayadashami is celebrated with pomp and grandeur to have an edge over the evil. On this day the mother kills the Mahisasura to bring back peace in the earth. Sweets are exchanged among all; every one embraces his near ones with cordial warmth. There is absolute share of goodwill. Vijaya Dashami is called Dussera to some corners. This is a day to celebrate the victory of Rama over Ravana the epitome of evil force. 

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Durga Puja in Kolkata

Durga Puja in Kolkata

The preparations of Durga puja festival starts when the rainy season is about to bid good bye and the black clouds still keep floating in the blue sky. Everyone irrespective of caste, creed and religion paying no heed to affluence or sheer poverty begin to count the days when the mother would come and fill the days packed with boredom and daily strife with endless mirth and frolic.

Those who work in the govt. sectors or semi government sectors, those who work in private sectors, those who toil hard to meet the expenses of their livelihood begin planning what would be the puja budget. It is the time to decorate their homes with different hues, don good clothes and make the little children happy with gifts of new garments, furbishing the home with renewed vitality.

Bengal is flooded with exceptional mirth and glee. There is the frown of cyclone and flood yet the Bengalis never step back, come back with full stride to combat the odds. It is the time not to brood over anything. It is the time to be drifted in the wave of eternal pleasure. Comes Mahalaya with the Mahisaurmardini, the baritone voice of Birendrakrisna Bhadra fills the air with the hymns of Devi Durga. People throng in the ghats of the rivers to pay homage to their ancestors in the form of Tarpan.

The festivity begins when the dhaks are beaten in different pandals. If we track back we find that the first Durga puja of the Bengali took place in the district of Nadia in the year 1606. Actually in those by gone days the pujas were limited in the families who were exceedingly well off. The puja that is called the oldest one was the puja of the Sabarna Chowdhury family of Barisha in Kolkata in the year 1610. The initial community puja was held in 1910 in an old locality of the then Calcutta.

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The Myth of Akalbodhana

Actually Durga Puja is scheduled in the period of spring. This Puja is known as the Basanti Puja. This is the right time of worshipping mother Durga according to the Hindu Scriptures. But Durga Puja in this perfect time is not accepted by the devotees, they prefer worshipping mother in the shukla paksha in the month of autumn. Hence the Puja is referred to as the Sharadia Puja. But according to the scriptures this is not the exact period of worshipping mother Durga. It is untimely worshipping; hence it is called the Akalbodhana.

The Durga Puja according to the Hindu scriptures is associated with the story of Lord Rama. His wife mother Sita was abducted by the demon king Ravana. Rama with the aid of the monkey army crossed the sea and reached Lanka now Sri Lanka, the then abode of Ravana. Ravana was a horrible demon. Hence it was very hard to slay him.

Rama finding no way to slay the demon king tried to seek the favor of the gods and goddesses. Ravana though was nothing but a demon was a fervent worshipper of Lord Shiva. As advised by the lord Shiva Rama determined to worship Durga to seek her favor. His intention was to slay Ravana at any cost and rescue Sita from his grip.

Rama had no other option before him than to arrange the Puja of the Mother. It was not the suitable period to worship her but out of sheer plight he had to evoke her untimely that is in Akal time. For this reason this Puja is called the Akalbodhana. This Puja was to be held with 100 blue lotuses. Rama could not manage all the flowers; he was able to collect only 99. As it was the ritual to offer 100 lotuses he had to offer his blue eye instead of the lotus that was remaining.

Devi Durga was pleased with his devotion and offered him the boon to slay Ravana at ease. Armored with the boon Rama killed Ravana on the Astami Tithi in a fierce battle.

Five Days of Durga Puja

There is a wise saying in Bengal that here there are 13 sacred festivals in 12 months. The adage goes like this 'Baro Mase Tero Parvana'. Actually it is so. Bengal is always bubbling with different kinds of festivities without discrimination of caste, creed , and social status.

The grand social festival Durga puja is celebrated for five days, but the planning, programming and calculations go round the year. With the end of a puja starts the planning of the next puja. The Bengalis always wait for the five days when they would be overwhelmed with endless joy. Durga puja in Bengal is never celebrated as a religious festival it has a deep rooted socio-cultural background since time immemorial.

With the Mahalaya the festive occasion starts but actually from the Sasthi or the sixth day of the Tithi the puja begins. There is Bodhana or the invocation of the Eternal Mother Devi Durga.With solemn pledge everyone prays to the goddess to come to his house with grace and offer name, prosperity, glory and treasure. The donning of new dresses starts on the very day.

On the Mahasaptami the mother is worshipped with heart felt devotion. The devotees offer flower offerings at her lotus feet. Children's joy knows no bound. Wearing new dresses they fly hither and thither just like butterflies. The elders too are not spared. They go on after their own sweet will.

Mahaastami is a very auspicious day. On that day it is called that the Demon Mahisasur was killed by Devi Durga. All the Bengalis observe the day either with fasting or taking diet for just once.

On Nabami the sadness prevails all around as the mother's sojourn is about to end. Mother would have to go back to her own abode leaving behind her distressed sons and daughters. This thought gets the better of the Bengalis and they begin to writhe in pain.

On Dashami the joy, the tempo of sobriety diminishes. Mother is ready to depart. The idols are immersed in the rivers or tanks. All bid good bye to mother with tearful eyes. The yearly spell of fun comes to an end. Now all have to wait for a long year when the mother would come back again to fill the earth with endless glee.

The Chronicle of Mahishasur

Durga Puja is associated with the slaying of Mahishasur, the buffalo demon. He was the son of an asur whose name was Rambha. Mahishasur was the son of Rambha and a buffalo mother. He had the power to transform himself anytime into a buffalo or a human being.

This Mahishasur wanted to rule the Universe. With this view he began to meditate hard. He was so determined to his meditation that Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe appeared before him and wished to offer him boons. Mahishasur demanded to be the emperor of the universe along with the blessing of immortality. He claimed that he must not be killed by any human being or any god. His desire was fulfilled.

Having been totally safe with the armor of the boons Mahishasur ravaged the Heaven and he earth. The gods were so terrified that that left Heaven to some safer places. Terror loomed large in the whole of the universe.

One day the gods held a meeting and decided to meet Lord Shiva to seek his help. They met Shiva and told him of their misery. Lord Shiva was so enraged that his third eye blazed. Out of the blaze a woman was born. She was combined with the powers of the other gods too. This woman was named Durga. She was decorated with the arms of the gods and was sent to combat Mahishasur.

Devi Durga attacked Mahishasur with a fighting spree. The fight continued for nine days. On the 10th day the demon was killed. Thenceforth Durga was called Mahishasurmardini or the demolisher of the demon Mahishasur. Mahishasur at last realized that all his brags were nothing but empty vaunts to the divine power. He prayed fervently to Devi Durga to bestow mercy on him so that he might be purged from sin. The Devi felt compassion for him and allowed him a place at her lotus feet.

Mythology of Durga Puja

In the long past as per the Hindu Scriptures a demon  who lived on the earth earned the favor of Lord Brahma( The Creator) and was bestowed the power of being undefeatable by any man or Deity. Having been shielded with the particular boon Mahishasura began the reign of terror. People were tortured brutally and the gods who reigned in the Heaven were driven too. The gods prayed to Lord Shiva to save them from the torture of the horrible demon. Shiva became very angry to hear of the details of the tortures and His third eye blazed. From the blaze of His third eye a woman was born. All the gods worshipped her and decorated Her with their arms and ammunitions. Their energy was also transferred to that woman who was named as Mother Durga. Mother Durga rode on a lion and slayed Mahishasura in a battle that lasted for nine days.

According to the Bengalis Durga is not only a Goddess who uprooted the evil force from the earth she is a lady of our own house hold with her children, Laxmi, Saraswati, Kartikeya and Ganesha. She lives with her husband Lord Shiva in the Kailas a peak in the Himalayas. Every year for four days She visits her father's house on the earth along with Her kids. Her parents eagerly look forward for the arrival of their dear daughter who has to pass the days amid sheer poverty as Her husband Shiva does nothing , only smokes ganjika( hashish) and dozes all the time accompanied by His associates who are none other than the spirits and ghosts. The Bengalis have tinged the Durga episode with the weal and woes of their house hold life.

Another story goes with Durga Puja. Rama having desired to rescue his wife Sita abducted by the fierce demon of Lanka Ravana worshipped Devi Durga to seek Her blessings. Durga was pleased and the battle was started on Saptami. Ravana was slain on Dashami. As Rama worshipped Durga in an unconventional time it is regarded as the Akal Bodhana or untimely worship.

Different Kinds of Durga Puja

Durga Puja is not only limited in the Bengali circles it is celebrated with pomp and grandeur by almost every section of people irrespective of caste and creed. The images may be different but the motto is one, to worship the goddess of might in any way. The Puja rituals vary from one state to another as India is land of diverse communities. But the worship of the mother is done with solemnity at every corner of the country.

Durga Puja in West Bengal is a yearly festival of five days. The Bengalis all over the world are beside themselves with joy when the moment of the Puja comes. The mother is worshipped here as an idol with ten hands, carrying different arms in each hand. She is fierce looking while slaying the demon Mahisasur. There are various stories regarding the inception of Durga Puja in Bengal. Still whatever they may be Durga Puja in Bengal is unmatched.

In Punjab the people basically observe Navaratri. There goes a ritual of drinking milk for consecutive seven days and to break the fasting on the day of the Navami. They too worship the idol of Durga and celebrate the Puja days with feast and frolic. Some take food once and help the beggars with different gifts. The custom of worshipping little girls as the embodiments of Shakti or Power is prevalent as in West Bengal.

Gujarati people worship Devi Amba and celebrate Navaratri. Every Gujarati celebrates the festive occasion with Dandia dance or Garba dance round the clock.

In Kerala the Durga Puja denotes the time of initiating education among the children between the age group three to five. Here the Puja continues for ten days.

In Maharashtra the Durga Puja is celebrated with solemnity. Everyday a garland is placed before the goddess. On the ninth day the garlands are removed together.

Mahalaya: Count Down of Durga Puja Starts

The Pitri Paksha or the fortnight is referred to the fore fathers. During this period the Hindus offer homage to their ancestors, their Pitas with specific offerings. In the month of September- October, in the Hindu month of Bhadra from the full moon day after the Ganesh Puja to the next full moon day is called the time Mahalaya. It is associated with the dark fortnight and best suited to do rites to please the demised souls of the ancestors.

In the Hindu scriptures it is told that the souls of the ancestors live in the Pitri Loka or the abode for the fathers. The place is located in between the Heaven and the earth. They eagerly wait for the offerings paid to them by their dear ones, living on earth, during this period. If they are offered the gifts or Tarpana they are pleased and bless their dear ones from the core of their hearts. Keeping this in mind the Hindus all over the globe pray offers to their ancestors with solemnity to seek their blessings.

The bell of the mirth of Durga Puja gongs with the Mahalaya. Now the time is ready to visit Goddess Durga to visit the earth to bless her sons and daughters who are busy to worship her.  Her sojourn on the earth is for four days but the count down starts from the very day of the Mahalaya. The time of the arrival of the Goddess is called Devi Paksha or the period of the Goddess when her rule predominates, when she comes to the earth to uproot the evil forces and establish the reign of peace and serenity.

On this very day many people throng on the banks of the rivers clad in new dress to offer their homage to their ancestors with the chanting of mantras. This ritual is named as the Tarpan.

The Durga Puja

Durga Puja that symbolizes the dominance of Women power over the Asura power (the evil power) and the virtual extinction of the evil force from this earth is a festival packed with much fun fare. The four day Puja is the much coveted period to the Bengalis round the globe. Every Bengali whether in India or abroad rejoices after the heart's content being associated with friends and relatives. In a word Durga Puja is nothing but a Puja of gala get together.

During Durga Puja everyone irrespective of caste, creed and religion is beside himself with joy and tries to forget malice, hatred, ill feelings. Actually Durga Puja brings a sense of fraternity and imbibes with the idea of global friendship. With the rhythm of dhak (   a kind of drum) the dance with the dhunuchi (the pot where myrrh is burnt) is a well known sight in every pandal. The misery is thrown away for the four days and sheer mirth prevails. In the places inhabited by the Bengalis there is annual holiday for five days.

Durga Puja is celebrated for five days, Sasthi, Saptami, Astami, Nabami and Dashami. There are different mantras on different days and different rituals too. Everybody clad in new dress gathers in the Puja pandals to pay homage to the Goddess Durga. The joy of the kids and the youths knows no bound. This is a period of going after the own sweet will and to do anything without caring the frowns of the seniors. For four days there is the arrangement of dainty dishes at every home. The only aim for the four days is eat, drink and be merry. No restrictions, no red eyes of the doctors, no hard frowns of the elders only arrogance and zeal to go after the will prevails.

 Now Durga Puja is not limited with the small span of the Bengali courtyard. It has become a global Puja where every nation takes part to be motivated with the idea of slaying the evil power at any cost and be drifted in the ripples of sheer mirth and laughter.