Thanks to GST, pretty much every industry that helps make our festivals more colourful will take a toll this year. But when has that ever dampened our spirit? All across the country, people are now gearing up to welcome the Goddess of Power and Prosperity, ‘Maa Durga’.
If you still aren’t clear about the dates this year, you have come to the right place!
Mahalaya 2017
September 19 is being celebrated as Mahalaya. The day according to the festive calendar marks the beginning of the 'Devi-paksha' and the end of the 'pitri-paksh' (Shraddh or the mourning period).
Goddess Durga starts her journey to earth (her paternal home). Mahalaya is also known as Akaalbodhan (ultimately invoking the goddess). Well this is just the beginning, let us have a sneak peek into the important rituals and customaries to follow.
The 10-day-long festival is less than a month away, and right from shoppers thronging the markets to artisans adding their finishing touches on the beautiful ‘pandals’, there is still a lot left to be done! Also known as ‘Durgotsava’, the festival is grandly celebrated by the Bengali community across the country. There are, however, minor differences in the way the festival is celebrated in the east as opposed to other parts of India – the very fundamental difference being, the idols worshipped in West Bengal, Assam and Odisha display an idol with ‘dashabhuja’ or 10 arms, whereas in other parts of the country, the Goddess has 8 arms, resembling ‘Ashtbhawani’.
Let’s take a look at the important dates and rituals of Durga Puja celebrations this year according to the Bengali and Gregorian Calendar:
When is Durga Puja 2017?
Mahalaya: Durga Puja Mahalaya
19 September 2017, Tuesday
Bengali Month - Ashvin 02, 1414
Panchmi:
25 September 2017, Monday
Bengali Month - Ashvin 08, 1414
Shashthi:
26 September 2017, Tuesday
Bengali Month - Ashvin 09, 1414
Saptami:
27 September 2017, Wednesday
Bengali Month - Ashvin 10, 1414
Mahaa-Ashtami:
28 September 2017, Thursday
Bengali Month - Ashvin 11, 1414
Mahaa-Nabami:
29 September 2017, Friday
Bengali Month - Ashvin 12, 1414
Dashami:
30 September 2017, Saturday
Bengali Month - Ashvin 13, 1414
Important Rituals for Durga Puja
The festival – that is known as 'Navratri’ in most parts of India – is known as Akalbodhon (‘ultimate awakening of Durga’) in Bengal, Assam and Odisha. There are certain very special rituals that mark its celebration, beginning with:
Mahalaya:
The Day that pays homage to one’s deceased family members also marks the advent of Maa Durga. It is believed that this is the day when the Goddess begins Her journey from Kailash Parbat on Amavasya (New Moon Day). They say various Gods present the Goddess with a variety of gifts:
Brahma gives Kamandalu (Oblong Water Pot)
Vishnu gives Chakra (Disk-like weapon)
Mahadev gives Trishul (3 pointed spear)
Indra gives Vajra (Thunderbolt)
Varuna gives Sankha (Conch Shell)
Vishwakarma gives Kulhar (Handle-less Cup)
Yamraj gives Kaldanda (Weapon of Death)
Vasuki gives Nag (Snake)
Surya gives Khara (Pointed Weapon)
Vayu gives Dhanuswar (Bow and Arrow)
...To the deity.
So many gifts, you see!
Shashthi: Kalaparambho (Pre-Puja Arrangements)
The next big day of the festival is the 6th Day after Mahalaya. This day marks the beginning of the actual celebrations as the deity is believed to have arrived in the mortal world, on this day, with her four children – Ganesha, Kartik, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
The idol of Mother Durga is welcomed at pandals and devotees celebrate her arrival after a yearlong wait. And the excitement in the air is at an all-time high!
Saptami: Arrival of Kola Bou
On Saptami, "Kola Bou" (Banana Plant) is worshipped and placed beside Lord Ganesha, signifying the arrival of his wife. Nine different plants are brought together and tied to the banana tree – each representing a Goddess – and they are collectively called "Nabapatrika" or "Kolabou". The turmeric plant signifies Goddess Durga and is dressed in a yellow, red-bordered silk sari.
Whic implies Lord Ganesha gets married on this day, every year?
‘Durga Ashtami’: The Ritual of Rituals
This is considered the most important day of the festival – the day you tend to save your best clothes and make up for. Of course, people still want to stand in queues outside the crowded ‘pandals’ and they make sure they don’t miss the morning ‘pushpanjali’ (flower offering to the God)!
Major rituals on the day include the sacrifice of a bottle gourd symbolising the end of the demon ‘Mahishasura’ who was believed to be half-human and half-buffalo.
Another important ritual includes the worship of girls aged between 7-9 years as the worship of the Goddess is also known as ‘Kumari Puja’.
No prizes for guessing who enjoys the most amidst all the rituals and pretty ladies all around!
Nabami: Pandal Hopping Day
The day commences with ‘Sandhi Puja’ which starts in the last 24 minutes of Maha-Ashtami and extends into 24 minutes of the 9th day. This period – known as ‘Sandhikhan’ – is believed to be the time when the notorious pair of Chando and Munda were slain by Chamunda (believed to be the fiercest form of Durga).
Rituals during this time involve the use of 108 lotus flowers and 108 earthen oil lamps., which means it’s ‘Diya’ all around. Ooops not this one:
Dashami: ‘Shubho Vijayadashami’
The final day of the long festive celebration. Women playfully smear the faces of their companions with sindoor (vermilion) as a mark of the victory of good over evil. ‘Ma Durga’ is immersed with the promise ‘Asche bochhor abaar hobey’ (May the celebrations resume next year) and the belief that she will now return to Mount Kailash to be with Shiva and the cosmos. People greet each other with the salutation ‘Shubho Bijoya’ – meaning ‘The Auspicious Victory’ – and exchange sweets and gifts, amidst the grief of the immortal power departing.
Does this look like a tiring affair to you? For those involved in the celebrations, it is so much more! From the ‘pre-planning’ phase, where meetings are held months before on how best to host their puja, to that final moment when one realises that one needs to get back to work, every individual makes the most of Durga Puja.
It isn’t just about worshipping an idol for days. What unites the hearts of Maa Durga’s devotees is the belief that ‘Maa’ will relieve them from all worries and fill their hearts with joy.
So, this time when you meet your ‘Bangla’ friend, go ahead and discuss the rituals with confidence since you know them a little better by now! And when they do try to Puja-splain to you, just tell them you already know!
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