Shree, Souvenir - Durga Puja 2013, Assam Society of Bangalore Volume I | Page 83

symbolism
Durga Puja

AND

contemporaneity
Saurabhi Sarmah
In contemporary times, Durga Puja refers to the
collective ceremonial worship of Goddesses Durga
by various communities in different places. Durga
Puja is a religious festival, but simultaneously this
festival has transcended the boundaries of religion
and turned into a significant cultural event. It is a
celebration of culture, tradition, reunion, love and
care; a festival that binds us all people irrespective
of caste, class and gender.
The mythological origin of Durga Puja dates back
to Ramayana where Rama sought the blessing of
Maa Durga to fight against Ravana, the king of
Lanka. According to historical sources, the first
grand celebration of Durga Puja took place in West
Bengal almost in the early 16th century. But the
collective celebration of Durga Puja or the concept
of Sarbojonin Durga Puja started from the 19th
century onwards in Bengal. A cursory look at our

own time reveals that with time the concept of
celebrating Shakti or worshipping Maa Durga has
spread not only to the various parts of the county,
but also to the entire globe.
Symbolically, Goddess Durga is a celebration of
Shakti to overcome the evil forces. People worship
Maa Durga to invoke the energy in them. In popular
mythology, she is a symbol of rage and universal
power. Nevertheless, each different aspect of Maa
Durga has different significance. As Shakti, she is
a symbol of universal energy epitomising power
and action; As Maa Kamakhya, she is a symbol of
desire; as Bhagawati she is a symbol of Yoni; and
as Durga she is the symbol of Power.
An embodiment of female power or Shakti, Durga
Puja still retains its significance which it had in
the past. Maa Durga is a symbolic
representation of female power and
¿? Shreeº

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