Bolo Durga Mai Ki Jai-Glory To Goddess Durga-An In Depth Look At Durga Puja/Pooja

September 26, 2007

Durga Puja is the festival of the Bengalis who hail from the eastern part of India. They wait eagerly all year round for their Mother to descend on earth, grace their homes and dwell in their hearts.

This festival depicts the victory of goodness over evil. The fresh, cool air, the clear-blue skies, mildly fragrant Shiuli (A type of seasonal flower), the bountiful harvest in the fields and chanting of mantras and Shlokas to worship Shakti, all collectively set up the ambience for this festival. Although Durga Puja spans over a period of ten days but the main part of the Puja is limited to four days. In Hindu tradition, the fifteen days from the new moon up to the next full moon is called as Debi/Devi Paksha, and is regarded as the best time for doing any sacred, religious and auspicious activity or event. On the day of the last new moon before the Mahalaya, the eyes of the idols are designed and the process is called Chakshudaan and with Mahalaya, the Durga Puja commences.

Durga Puja The main ceremony begins on the evening of Sasthi (The sixth day after the new moon) generally under a Bel (Wood Apple) tree. In Saptami (The seventh day after the new moon) the Pran or life of the Goddess is invoked. It is carried from a pond or river in a banana tree and established with the form. The banana tree is adorned in a fresh yellow sari and like a new bride she is seated in a palanquin. She is called the Kola-Bou (Kola is banana and Bou denotes bride). This ritual of invoking life into the idol is known as Bodhan. The main Puja begins thereafter and the main time is the Sandhikshan-the crossover time between Ashtami and Navami. On Dashami or Vijay Dashami or Dassera, the tenth day from the new moon, the idol of the Goddess is immersed in a pond, river, lake or sea. People celebrate and greet each other saying “Shubho Bijoya” which denotes the auspicious victory.

There is a long history on how it all began. This festival dates back to the medieval period, and records exist of it being held in the courts of Rajshahi (16th century) and Nadia district (18th century). It was during the 18th century, however, that the worship of Durga became popular among the elites of Bengal, jagirdars and zamindars. Prominent Pujas were conducted at their residences which were initiated by Raja Nabakrishna Deb of Shobhabajar. Many of these old pujas exist till date. Today, the culture of Durga Puja has shifted from the princely houses to Sarbojanin (literally, “involving all”) forms. The first such Puja was held Guptipara – it was called Barowari (Baro meaning twelve, Wari meaning friends)
Durga Puja mood starts off with the Mahishasuramardini – a radio programme that has been popular with the community since the 1950s. While earlier it used to be conducted live, later a recorded version began to be broadcast. Bengalis traditionally wake up at 4 in the morning on Mahalaya day to listen to the enchanting voice of the late Birendra Krishna Bhadra and the late Pankaj Kumar Mullick on All India Radio. They recite hymns from the scriptures from the Devi Mahatmyam or Chandi. This extract has been taken from Wikipedia.

Large tents or pandals made of bamboo and cloth are constructed where the Goddess will reside for the festival. The arena is adorned with lights and is theme based. They are on social issues, current events or sometimes simply based on traditional motifs. The idol of Goddess Durga is adorned in a red, silk or Benarasi sari, adorned in gold ornaments with a bejeweled crown on her dark, long, wavy, flowing hair. She stands with one foot on her mount, the lion with ten weapons in her ten hands aimed at the Mahisasura (Buffalo Demon), piercing his mammoth chest. She is accompanied by her children Lord Ganesh, Lord Kartik, Goddess Laxmi and Goddess Saraswati. All of them are accompanied with their vahan, vehicle or mount.

Durga Puja The flower worship or Pushpanjali is held in the mornings, followed by distribution of Phaal prasad (Phaal – fruit and Prasad – Sanctified food.) The highlight of the evening Aarti is that of the ritual drummers – dhaakis, carrying large leather-strung dhaaks, (a type of drum that is draped across their shoulder) show off their skills during ritual dance worships, followed by Dhunoo Chi Nach (A special dance performed mostly by men holding small earthen pots with handles which have hot burning charcoals and fragrant powders which emits a wonderful fragrance to please the divine Mother. On the last day, she returns to her husband, Lord Shiva ritualized through her immersion into the waters known Bishorjon, Bhaashan or Niranjan.

With the understanding of the history and details of the Puja let us go back further in time when Gods were helpless and the Goddess was created to rescue them. The Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana describes the creation of the form of Goddess Durga. Mahisasura, the buffalo demon through years of penance received a boon from Lord Brahma. The blessing had made him powerful and invincible. But he abused this boon and started destroying the universe. He targeted heaven and then one by one the Gods. Unable to combat his wrath of evil and destruction, the gods went to the Tridev (Trinity Of Gods) Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahesh. But Mahisasura conquered them too.

The Trinity then imparted all their divine powers to Goddess Uma/Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva and she transformed into Goddess Durga. The divine gifts bestowed on Goddess Durga to defeat Mahisasura were a trident from Pinakadhrik, Varuna, the sea god gave her a conch, Lord Krishna handed her a disc. The god of fire presented her a missile. The wind, Vayu graced her with arrows while the king of gods, Lord Indra, gifted her thunder-bolt, and the gift from Airavata (Lord Indra’s white-skinned elephant) was a bell. From the god of death, Yamraj, she was honored by a rod, and from the ruler of waters she was gifted a noose. Vishwakarma, the heaven’s architect gave her a bright axe and a magic armor. God of mountains, Himavat gave her jewels and a splendid lion to ride into her battle with Mahisasura.

First she fought and defeated the Mahishasura’s chief commanders- Chikasura and Chamara and their armies. Mahisasura was terrified and enraged by the shocking events on the battlefield. He came back to his own form, a buffalo, and went to attack the goddess’s lion. The lion was furious by the presence of the demon-buffalo and attacked him. While the demon was engaged in fighting with the lion, she threw her noose around his neck. Before the noose could tighten, he left the form of buffalo and assumed the form of a lion. But, she beheaded the lion. Unfortunately Mahisasura escaped again. He took the formidable figure of a huge elephant and battered the lion with a tusk. When she saw her mount getting attacked, she hacked the tusk until it was broken. Mahisasura was shaken up with the Goddess’s unbeatable power. He retreated into the mountains in the shape of buffalo and threw boulders at the Goddess with his horns. The Goddess then drank divine nectar and jumped on Mahishasura throwing him to the ground with her left leg. She seized his head in one hand, stabbed him with a sharp spear held in another hand and then beheaded him. This was the end of the reign of terror.

Another legend explains why Durga puja is also referred to as Akalbodhon. The worship of Goddess Durga in the month of Ashwin is called ‘Akalbodhan’- an uncustomary time for commencement of the worship. It is so called since the period of this worship differs from the conventional period that is during the spring, Basanta. The epic of Ramayana states that when Lord Ram was engaged in the fierce battle with the demon Ravan, he wanted to secure the blessings of victory from Goddess Durga. He held the Puja to evoke the goddess during autumn to aid him in his battle. So invoking her untimely is known as Akal. Hence this puja is called Akalbodhon. (Bodhon is the ritual of invoking her) Goddess Durga is worshipped with 100 neel kamal or blue lotuses. Lord Ram could gather only 99 of them. To complete the ritual, he offered one of his eyes as a substitute of the 100th lotus. Pleased with his devotion Durga Devi blessed him. The battle started on Saptami and Ravan was killed at the Shandhikshan that is in between Ashtami and Navami. He was cremated on Dashami or Dasera.

It is customary to wear new clothes on this auspicious festival. Women drape saris in the traditional Bengali style and wear saris of traditional Bengali handlooms like Baluchori, Kantha, Tangayal, Jamdani and so on. They are adorned in yellow gold ornaments from head to toe. Men are not too far behind who wear embroidered Kurta and crisp, pleated Dhoti. The kurta buttons are studded with diamond, pearl or precious stones like rubies and emeralds. Bengalis are famous for their cuisine especially sweets. The exclusive sweet that is prepared for this festival is “Narcoal Chhapa.” This is made of coconut which means Narcoal in Bengali and Chhapa is a mould that is specially made and offered to the Goddess.

After the immersion, there is traditional way of hugging one another in jubilation of this enchanting atmosphere and it is known as “Kolakuli”. The elders are revered by touching their feet – a mark of respect and to seek their blessings.

We wish all our readers Shubo Bijoya and pray that divinity engulfs all our souls.