Hi all, I was absent for a some period from here as I was having both good and bad times altogether.
First I want to explain what Durga puja is.
Durga puja is a 🕉 religious festival which happens once a year for five consecutive days, mostly among Bengali hindu community. Same goes for Navratri,nine days festival which is observed by other state communities aswell.It is generally celebrated in the month of Ashvin(September-October).It portrays the victory of good over evil. We celebrate the victory of Goddess, Maa Durga over the evil of 'Asuras'.
It also signifies Maa Durga's return to her father's home from her in-laws and a seasonal return to one's root.This year, Durga Puja got recognition as an intangible heritage from UNESCO.
There will be countless pandals (religious art installment) as always. Each have their own ideas or themes to showcase every year; be it simple traditional look or social theme based which focuses spreading awareness among public.
'Maa Durga' is decorated with flowers, jewels, sarees and the Goddess is accompanied by other God and Goddesses.Ritualistic worshipping is done by 'Brahmins'. Colourful decors,temporary shops, pavilions and food stalls add life to these pandals.Gorgeously decorated pandals get lit in the evening with thousand of lights in a prism of colour . It gets crowded in the evening compared to day time since it gets cooler by sundown. People hop pandals to pandals at nights to enjoy the lightings around the cities.We all get up early in the morning,pray to Her Divine, eat delicious foods made from vegetables that the season brings.Cultural activities, beating drums, dunuchi dance are inseparable when we think of puja.
This year, out of five days I only got a couple of opportunity to go out and enjoy this festivities.Still i was fortunate compared to the last year where I was confined to just one during puja due to health issues.So this year, munching on delicious foods was my only motto.This year the weather was absolutely unbearable. The scorching heat didn't spare anyone.I chose daytime to avoid huge crowds. But I am very excited that I captured some moments and you will also see how it actually looks.
On the last day, on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami,married women celebrate 'sidoor khela' applying vermillion on each other's face. Afterwards, devotees carry out procession along with idols by dancing while being emotional as Her Divine Maa Durga is submerged into holy water of the river Ganges which signifies her return to the heavenly realm and a dimension where the gods live.Worshippers wish for Maa Durga to come back next year with more blessings and happiness. It is an emotional farewell.
Source: All the photos shown in the post are taken from my cell phone.
I hope you read this and get to know a little of our religious culture.It feels overwhelmed sharing a part of us.