"Yaa devi sarvabhuteshu maatrirupena sansthitaa,
Namastasyai, Namastasyai, Namastasyai Namo Namah||"[Shree Shree Chandi]
--I pay my obeiscance to that Goddess who is in her "Motherly" form in every human beings. I bow to her over & over again.
A bengali is often linked with his annual festivity that is Durga Puja. When the entire Hindu community celebrate the Navratri[a period of Nine days, post the new moon in September-October of every year], the Bengalis rejoice themselves in worshipping the Mother Nature in the form of Devi Durga. The word Durga is quite significant. In shabdakalpadruma,a treatise on Sanskrit words, the meaning of Durga has been given "Dukkhena gamyate, yaa prapyate, saa Durga"--What you achieve, after going through a lot of sorrow & pain is Durga.
Today morning I was going through a couple of old videos of Durga Puja, & it made me write on Durga Puja. Traditionally, it is celebrated twice in a year, once in Autumn[September-October] or else in Spring[March-April].If one notes, this festival is celebrated when the farmer is ready for harvesting his grains, crops etc. Thats why, alongwith Durga, who is worshipped in the form of an idol, a bunch of 9 plantings are also worshipped. The Idol of Durga is of a female, who has 10 hands & carrying 10 different weapons. She is killing a demon, Mahishasura & is being assisted by her mount, the fierce Lion. In Bengali community, Durga is also worshipped with her so-called four children, viz., Kartika, Ganesh, Lakshmi & Saraswati. Kartika, is said to be the chief of divine army, Ganesh is the leader of all Gods & is supposed to take off all your obstacles. Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth & prosperity & Saraswati is the goddess of learning.A picture of Shiva- the lord of destruction is also put for worshipping him, as he is said to be the consort of Devi Durga.
As per the customs & belief, Durga is supposed to be the daughter who has come to visit her parents with her kids. Thats why, the folk song, "Jaao Jaao Giri aanite Gouri, Uma naaki boro kedeche" [O Giri, go to get my Gouri, I heard she had been crying]& many such songs are sung in the preliminary days of Durga Puja.As it happens in a family, when the daughter is going to visit her parents, every one in the family celebrate this period, with all festivities---similarly, it is celebrated in Bengal, specially when it is performed in household.
Durga Puja means a lot of austerity & is expensive too. Few articles are required for performing for Durga Puja are also difficult to obtain. It is considered to be the "Ashwamedha Yajna"[A Vedic horse sacrifice] of this age. It is also referred to as "Mahapuja"--Big Puja, since it consists of Goddess daily bath, worship, yajna etc.
The puja commences on the sixth lunar date of the waxing moon, known as "Bodhan". Hindus consider that in a year, Gods sleep for 6 months & remain awake for 6 months, thus 1 earthly year=1 divine day. Since this puja is performed in the Goddess' resting phase, she is awakened through a special prayer called "Bodhan". The meaning of the mantra, which is recited is: O devi, please wake up, in the evening of the 6th bright phase of the lunar month of Ashwin--as Lord Brahma did on the request of Shree Ramchandra to kill Ravana"---thus the Durga Puja commences. However, in few old households, who are traditionalists, they perform this ceremony 15 days before.
On the following day, Goddess is invoked in a special collection of 9 plants & plantings, as discussed before--this is duly bathed in river/pond & then with an array of articles, few of which are difficult to collect.
On the following day, Ashtami, Goddess is worshipped like the previous day, bathed as per rituals & many other gods & goddesses are also worshipped. In the conjunction of two lunar dates--Ashtami & Navami, a special puja is performed, known as "Sandhi Puja", which lasts for 48 minutes. It is said, that Goddess is very much present in the idol, in which she is worshipped in this time---any prayers will never be unanswered.
On the following day, Navami, the worship is performed like of Ashtami, however, the puja is ended with a Yajna--fire sacrifice. The evening of Navami, indicates that the festivities are about to end the following day, the poet writes, "O Nobomi nishi aar pohaayo naa"[Let the ninth night never end..].
The Dasami, the following day, Goddess Durga is worshipped with rituals & then requested to return to her abode & revisit the following year. After various prayers, a mirror is placed in a pot of water, colored with turmeric & is given a virtual immersion & the idol is immersed in a river or a pond nearby.
Festivities in Calcutta
Calcutta being the hometown of numerous Bengalis, it is celebrated with much pomp & glory. To a bengali, Durga Puja is often known as "Puja" or "Pujo" simply & any bengali long to visit Calcutta. Mahalaya is significant, as it is the last day of ritual oblation to ones ancestors before Durga Puja--so all bengalis throng the rivers & ponds, to offer their prayers to their ancestors before the auspicious period. AIR[All India Radio] also airs a special program "Mahishashurmardini", glorifying the Goddess and her deeds to save the earth & Gods. I am sure, any Bengali will swear by it :)
Mostly, all bengalis start their *shopping* for new clothes during Durga Puja even till the last moment [I always do in the last moment]. It is altogether a different feeling in Calcutta--one who has been during this period & witnessed it can only tell--I cannot express it in words...
Since the various clubs, organisations have started celebrating Durga Puja for public, flocking the Puja pandals have been one of favorites for the Calcuttans during this period. New concepts of making the idol, Pandal[a temporary structure for God's seat] etc have risen due to various competitions sponsored by few Companies.
Another favorite for youngsters, people in teens & tweens is "bird-watching" for hours after hours. Eating out, catching up with friends & also prayers to Devi Durga is also another activity. Sometimes, prayers to Durga in the form of idol, is to get a "living" Durga!!
On the Ashtami day, most of the Bengalis prefers wearing Dhuti[It is a rectangular piece of unstitched cloth, usually around 7 yards long, wrapped around the waist and the legs, and knotted at the waist] & a Kurta. Sometimes, Kurta & Pajama too, while women generally wear Sari.Also on this day, offering special prayers to Durga with a handful of flowers is a custom.
Though the Bengalis, who have their roots in Kolkata prefer to eat vegetarian on this day & have no rice, however, people with roots from present Bangladesh, like me, prefer to eat mutton on this day. I remember, eating mutton after mutton on this day, when I was young...
Dasami means the puja is over. People meet their relatives, friends with sweets & an array of salty foods too. It is altogether a festive period, when people relax for few days, schools, offices remain closed during these days too.Badly, I have missed Durga Puja in Kolkata in 2008 & 2009---I want to attend it this year, if "Maa" wishes me to attend.
A picture of Durga, Belur Math.
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