Hi Guys I Am Sougata From Kolkata or calcutta (India). Today, I want Introduce about My Nation's Biggest festival 'DURGA PUJA'(দুগা পূজা), Yes I am Hindu means Bangali(বাঙািল) and I am Proud of Hinduism. Some of My Steemit friends will think what is this! But Trust me If You Read my Whole Article you will be Fan of My Nation(বাঙািলয়ানা). And You will also feel proud also when You take the Taste of Our Nature Festival( Durga Puja). Durga Puja:-
Intro- Durga Puja is one of the main festivals of the Hindus religion. It is also known as Durgotsava or Sharadotsav of which six days are observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Astami, Maha Navami and Vijayadashami. Goddess Durga is worshipped all through the days of this festival. It generally falls in the Hindi month of Aswin. Goddess Durga has 10 hands with different weapon in each. People worship goddess Durga to be safe from the evil power.
About Durga Pooja
Durga Puja is celebrated from sixth to ninth day of bright lunar fortnight (shukla paksha) in Ashvin. Tenth day is celebrated as Vijayadashami as at this day goddess Durga got victory over a demon. This festival marks the victory of goodness over evil power, a buffalo demon Mahishasura. People in Bengal worship Durga as Durgotinashini means a destroyer of evil as well as a protector of devotees.
It is widely celebrated at many places in India such as Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Mithila, Jharkhand, Odisha, Manipur, West Bengal, etc. At some places it becomes five-days annual holiday. It is a religious and socio-cultural event being celebrated for years with complete devotion by the devotees. A huge Durga puja fair also held in the Ram-lila ground which attracts a big crowd of people.
Story and Legends of Durga Puja
There are various stories and legends of Durga puja which are mentioned below:
It is considered as, once there was a demon king, Mahishasura, who was ready to attack on Gods of heaven. He was too powerful to defeat from God. Then an eternal power was created by the Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh which was named as Durga (a magnificent woman having ten hands with special weapons in each). She was given eternal power to destroy demon Mahishasura. Finally She killed that demon on tenth day called as Dussehra or Vijayadashami.
Another legend behind Durga puja is Lord Rama. According to the Ramayana, Ram had performed a chandi-puja in order to get blessings of mata Durga to kill Ravana. Rama had killed Ravana on tenth day of Durga puja called as Dussehra or Vijayadashami. So, Durga puja is the symbol of victory of goodness over evil power forever.
Once Kautsa (son of Devdatt) has decided to offer gurudakshina to his guru named Varatantu after completing his education however he was asked to pay 14 crore gold coins (one for each 14 sciences he studied there). In order to get the same he went to the king Raghuraj (ancestor of Rama) however he was unable because of the Vishvajit sacrifice. So, Kautsa went to Lord
Indra and he again summoned Kuber (god of wealth) to rain the required gold coins over “shanu” and “apati” trees in Ayodhya. In this way, Kautsa got gold coins to offer to his guru. That event is still remembered through a custom of looting leaves of the “apati” trees. At this day, people gift these leaves to each other as a gold coin.
Environmental Impact of Durga Puja Due to the people’s negligence, it impacts the environment to a huge level. The materials used in making and coloring (such as cement, plaster of Paris, plastic, toxic paints, etc) the sculptures of Mata Durga causes pollution to the local water resources. The immersion of the statues directly pollutes the river water at the end of festival. In order to reduce the environment impacts of this festival, there should be efforts from everyone’s end that the use of eco-friendly materials by the artisans in making statues, devotees should not immerse the statues directly in Ganga water and search out some safe ways to perform the rituals of this festival. Commercialization of the Hindu festivals in the 20th century has created major environmental issues.
Significance of Durga Puja
The festival of Navaratri or Durga puja has various significances. The meaning of Navaratri is nine nights. Tenth day is known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra. It is the day when goddess Durga got victory over a demon after nine days and nine nights long battle. Goddess Durga is worshipped by the people to get strength and blessings. Worshipping Goddess Durga helps devotees to remove negative energy and negative thoughts as well as get the peaceful life. It is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Lord Rama over evil Ravana. People celebrate this festival by burning the big statue of Ravana and fireworks at night of Dussehra.
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