Durga Puja Calendar
Durga Puja celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. It is a major festival in Bengal and eastern India, observed with grand festivities.
Year:
The Grandest Festival of Bengal
Durga Puja is not just a festival but a cultural extravaganza, predominantly celebrated in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and Tripura. It honors Goddess Durga’s victory over the shape-shifting buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the power of feminine energy (Shakti).
Key Days & Rituals
- Mahalaya: Marks the beginning of the Devi Paksha and the descent of the Goddess to Earth.
- Shashthi to Navami: The main days of worship involving elaborate rituals, scripture recitations (Chandi Path), and the mesmerizing Dhunuchi Naach (dance with incense burners).
- Vijaya Dashami: The final day when the idols are immersed in water bodies (Visarjan) amidst chants of "Asche Bochor Abar Hobe" (She will come again next year). Married women participate in Sindoor Khela, smearing vermilion on each other.