Durga puja is around the corner; people are enthusiastic about celebrations, festivals and adventure. Like any year, this year would be full of festivities and fun, may maa Durga bless you.
Durga Puja is one of the most significant Hindu festivals celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion, especially in eastern India. It honours the goddess Durga, who symbolises divine feminine energy and power. During this auspicious occasion, devotees offer various rituals and prayers to seek the blessings of the goddess.
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If you are excited to know when Durga Puja is in India, then here is the detail of the festival -
Also Known as Akalbodhan, Sharadotsav, Maayer Puja, Durga Puja, Sharadiya Puja or Maha Puja
We present here the Detailed Durga Puja Calendar for 2024. You can quickly check Durga Puja 2024 date and determine how many days are left for Durga Puja -
Durga Puja celebrations offer several teachings and lessons like-
The elaborate rituals of the Durga Puja festival celebrate the victory of good over evil. It reminds us that goodness wins the battle no matter how evil solid forces or demons may seem. This teaching encourages us to cultivate positive values, kindness, compassion, etc. It also teaches us the importance of high moral character and problems with ego.
Durga Puja highlights the power and strength of the Goddess Durga, which is considered a divine form of female strength and courage. The festival underlines the importance of understanding the contributions of women in society. It also serves as a reminder to respect and empower women, promoting gender equality and developing a just and kind world. Durga Puja similarly brings people from different backgrounds, communities and faiths together. The festival goes a long way in developing social harmony, peace and bonding.
Goddess Durga is regarded as a fearless and powerful warrior deity. Her image inspires us to be bold, brave, courageous and determined to face challenges. The elaborate rituals of this Puja teach us to recognise the inner power, understand strength and work for our goals. It also motivates us to display strength and determination - to overcome the existing hurdles in our life.
Durga Puja pandals are renowned for their artistic expressions, innovative Durga Puja drawings, etc. The festival encourages celebrating and promoting sculptures, music, dance and theatre. The well-designed Durga Puja images teach us to appreciate and support the arts and cultural expression.
The extensive rituals and celebrations throughout the Durga Puja dates teach us the importance of devotion and surrender to a higher power. The rituals and prayers during the festival symbolise our willingness to seek divine guidance and blessings. It emphasises the need to forget our worries and anxieties and trust the designs of the higher force. Thus, if you are going through a low phase in life, then this can be a turning point for you.
Read More :THE HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF DURGA PUJA CELEBRATIONS
Durga Puja dates end with the immersion of the idol in water. This symbolises the departure of the Goddess from the material world. This teaches us to let go of attachments and love in the present. It also helps us to live in the moment instead of worrying about the future. It is also an excellent time for people to celebrate and share joy. It encourages us to adopt a spirit of generosity and social welfare. The Durga Puja countdown also reminds us to support the weak and oppressed. It also encourages us to understand how we can make a positive difference in the lives of those in need.
The Durga Puja festival spans several days and typically falls in the month of Ashwin (September or October) according to the Gregorian calendar. The dates of Durga Puja vary each year as determined by the lunar calendar. You can quickly check how many days are left for Durga Puja using the special countdown by the Ministry of Bengal. Kolkata Durga Puja usually starts on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month Ashwin (Shukla Paksha), known as Mahalaya. The main festivities begin on the seventh day, Maha Saptami, and continue until the tenth day, known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.
Preparations for the Durga Puja festival begin months in advance, with the construction of pandals. Thus, weeks before the 2024 Durga Puja dates, the idols of Goddess Durga are designed by artisans and craftsmen. They create these beautiful idols using clay, giving them unique yet stunning details and ending it using vibrant colours. These idols are then decorated with beautiful clothing, jewellery and accessories per the pandals' demands.
The Durga Puja 2024 will commence with Mahalaya. This is observed as the start of the Durga Puja countdown, i.e. seven days before the main celebrations. Today, people wake up early in the morning and listen to the sacred text called "Chandi Path," which depicts the story of Goddess Durga's bravery and courage over the demons. This day also marks the symbolic arrival of the Goddess on Earth. However, the main festivities begin on the sixth day. On this day of Shashti, the idols of Goddess Durga are brought to the Durga Puja pandals and installed. The rituals start with Bodhon or Pran Pratishtha, where the priest recites mantras to invite the Goddess and awaken her spiritual presence within the idols. This event is followed by Adhibas, where devotees offer flowers, fruits, etc., to the Goddess idols.
On the seventh day or Saptami, there is a performance of Kolabou Puja. This ritual involves the worship of bunches of raw bananas as a carrier of divine feminine energy. This is followed by a series of practices called Nabapatrika Puja, where nine different plants representing the nine forms of Durga Maa are worshipped. These plants are then tied together to symbolise the complete form of the Goddess herself.
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On Ashtami, there is a recitation of sacred texts and an offering of special prayers to seek the blessings of the Goddess Durga. A unique form of puja called Kumari Puja is performed, where young girls are worshipped as the representation of the Goddess herself. The belief is that the purity and innocence of these girls channelised the divine qualities and energy of the Goddess to the devotees. After the puja, there is a presentation of Pushpanjali, an offering of flowers to the Goddess and sacred mantras.
The ninth day, known as Navami, is the day for the final worship of the Goddess. Devotees gather in large numbers to offer their prayers and seek the blessings of the Goddess before her departure. On the final day of Dussehra, the festival marks the visarjan of the idols. Devotees dance, sing and bid farewell to the Goddess. They also express their gratitude for her blessings during the period and seek her return the following year.
Prasad plays a central role in Durga Puja festival celebrations. It is the sacred food offered to the deity and then distributed among the devotees as a token of divine blessings. Prasad is considered highly auspicious and is believed to carry the blessings of Maa Durga. Thus, the preparation of the Durga Puja prasad involves a combination of traditional sweets and savoury dishes carefully crafted to please the Goddess. Once the prasad is offered to the deity, it is distributed among the devotees. It is believed that consuming prasad brings spiritual blessings and strengthens the bond between the devotee and the goddess.
Some popular sweets that are commonly prepared as prasad during Kolkata Durga Puja include-
Ladoo: These round-shaped sweets made from flour, sugar, and ghee are a favourite among devotees. They are often flavoured with cardamom, saffron, or nuts to enhance their taste and aroma.
Sandesh: Sandesh is a yummy Bengali sweet made from cottage cheese (chenna), sugar, and various flavours such as rose, saffron, or pistachio. It is often shaped into small, bite-sized pieces and decorated with nuts.
Peda: Peda is a rich and creamy sweet made from condensed milk and sugar flavoured with cardamom or saffron. It has a soft, fudge-like texture and is often garnished with pistachios or almonds.
Rosogolla: Rosogolla is a famous Bengali sweet made from cottage cheese balls cooked in sugar syrup. These spongy, juicy balls are prevalent and are considered a quintessential part of Durga Puja Prasad.
Along with sweets, dishes like khichdi (a rice and lentil dish), mixed vegetable curry, puri (fried bread), and chutneys are also prepared.
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