Taiwan Probashi: Puja, 2019
Durga Puja – The Heart of Bengalees
Saptami is the seventh day of this festival. This day is
known for ‘Bathing of Navapatrika’, an ancient ritual for
Durga Puja aka Durgotsav aka Navaratri, a major Hindu
festival is celebrated by people especially Bengalis in
India and Bangladesh, during the mid-autumn season in
honor of the divine feminine deity. This grand social
event
of
Durga
Puja
(Puja
a Sanskrit word meaning "Prayer
Service
Ritual")
showcases the beautiful culture of Indians in India. This
Puja is traditionally held for 10 days and signifies the
triumph of good over evil as Devi (Devi in the Sanskrit
language means Goddess) Durga, wife of God Shiva who
ends the reign of Demon Buffalo King Mahishasura.
Durga Puja is also known as Navaratri in other parts of
India and Dashain in Nepal.
Puja of nine plants: Ashoka, banana, turmeric,
pomegranate, Jayanti, arum plant, paddy, colocasia, and
bael. These plants are worshipped as a symbol of the
divine goddess.
The eight-day of this festival, Ashtami is a significant day
in this festival, where lakhs of people keep fast to offer
Anjali (Divine Offering) to Goddess Durga.
Navami is the ninth day of this festival. Goddess Durga
is also known as ‘Mahishasurmardini’, slayer of the
demon Mahishasur as on this very day she ends the
reign of the demon king Mahishasur and good emerges
as victorious over evil. This is a day to celebrate Goddess
Durga’s
victory.
During this time of the year, the streets of Kolkata,
Bhubaneswar, Guwahati and several other places in
India becomes packed with thousands of locals and
tourists who come to see the beautifully decorated clay
idols of Devi Durga to offer their prayers and eat in
numerous food stalls that pop up in the streets and
celebrate the victory of Goddess Durga. These clay idols
are set up in theme-based pandals (temporarily
structured temples). Devotees prolong for this event
throughout the year and exchange clothes and sweets
during this occasion.
This year, Durga Puja will commence on 28th September
and end on 8th October 2019.
Mahalaya is the first day of this festival which this year
will be celebrated on 28th September. According to
Hindu Mythology, Mahalaya is the day of Amavasya
(new moon day near Autumnal Equinox) which marks
the end of Pritu Paksha (Deadly Most Evil Period) and
start of Devi Paksha (Divine Period). Goddess Durga is
invoked on this day through holy enchantments and she
starts traveling to the Earth from Heaven. This is also
considered as a day of remembrance where people pay
homage to their ancestors.
Dashami is the last day of this festival which starts with
Sindoor Khela (A game of Vermillon) where Married
women smear vermilion or Sindoor to goddess Durga
and also among each other to wish happy married life.
This concludes with a great procession where clay idols
of Goddess Durga are ceremoniously walked over to
water bodies for a solemn goodbye to Goddess Durga.
As the clay idol is immersed, Goddess Durga is believed
to return to Mount Kailash (Heaven as per Hindu
Mythology) with God Shiva and her devotees believe she
Panchami, the fifth day of this festival, marks the will come back every year to put an end to evil.
beginning of this festival.
Durga Puja is one of the biggest festivals celebrated all
Shasthi, the sixth day signifies the arrival of Goddess over the world by several devotees. This festival is a
Durga to Earth along with her kids Lakshmi, Saraswati, sheer display of women empowerment where good
Ganesha, and Kartikeya. On this day, the face of Durga wins over evil.
Idol also gets unveiled.
----- Ushashi Bhattacharya, Taipei City
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