Durga Puja 2021: As soon as autumn arrives, several cities across India get into a frenzied mood to celebrate one of the biggest festivals of the country, yes, Durga Puja.
This multi-day festival breathes a new life into cities and the people therein invites décorations called pandals, dance and music, processions, cultural events, and of course, non-stop food and shopping,
Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava, or Sharodotsava, is an annual Hindu festival originating in the Indian subcontinent which reveres and pays homage to the Hindu goddess and is also celebrated because of the victory of goddess durga over mahishasur, Durga.
The festival epitomizes the victory of good over evil and and marks the victory of goddess Durga in her battle against the shape-shifting asura, Mahishasura.
It is also in part a harvest festival celebrating the goddess as the motherly power behind all of life and creation. Durga puja coincides with Navaratri and Dussehra celebrations observed by other traditions of Hinduism in which the Ram Lila dance-drama is enacted, celebrating the victory of Rama against Ravana, and effigies of Ravana are burnt.
Over the years, Durga puja has become an inseparable part of Indian culture with innumerable people celebrating this festival in their own unique way while pertaining to tradition.
Durga Puja 2021: Days
Day 1. October 11
Bilva Nimantran, Kalparambha
Akal Bodhon, Amantran, Adhivas
Day 2. October 12th
Navpatrika Puja, Kolabou Puja
Day 3. October 13th
Durga Ashtami, Kumari Puja
Sandhi Puja
Day 4. October 14th
Maha Navami, Durga Balidan
Navami Homa
Day 5. October 15th
Durga Visarjan, Vijayadashami
Sindoor Utsav
Durga Puja 2021: Significance
Dura Puja celebrates the victory of good over evil as goddess Durga killed demon king Mahishasur.
As per the Hindu mythology, it is believed that the goddess visits her earthly abode during this time to bless her devotees. Durga Puja holds great significance for the Bengali community.
Goddess Druga arose from the combined energies of all the Gods in heaven to defeat Mahishasura,. She had ten arms and each of her arms wielded the deadliest weapon of each God. During this period all the weapons used by Goddess Durga are sanctified.
During this festival, devotees wear new clothes, chant aartis, visit temples, distribute sweets, clean their houses, and some may even fast to show gratitude towards the Goddess.
Bengali’s celebrate their ten-armed mother goddess defeating evil, symbolising the victory of good over evil.
How to celebrate Durga Puja ?
The Durga Puja festival is a ten-day long affair, out of which the last five days are marked with ceremonies, rituals, and celebrations.
- First Day: The festival begins on Mahalaya, the day on which the goddess is invoked to descend to earth for her yearly visit to her maternal abode.
Hindus pay homage to their ancestors, on the same day.
- Sixth Day: Also known as Shashthi , the day signifies her arrival along with her children, namely Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh, and Kartik, on earth after her long journey from Kailash, her abode in heaven.
- Seventh, Eight, and Ninth Days: The next three days are known as Saptami (seventh day), Ashtami (eighth day), and Navami (ninth day), and they are the most significant days of the festival.
The goddess is worshipped by observing various rituals and recitation of the scriptures, on these days.
- 10th Day: Dashami is the last and tenth day of the festival when Durga is believed to start on her return journey.
Huge processions are taken out on Dashami as people accompany the goddess to the waterfront to bid her farewell in a vibrant manner.goddess to the waterfront to bid her farewell in a vibrant manner.
10 Pandals you must visit in India during Durga Puja 2021:
- Sreebhumi Sporting Club, Kolkata
- Deshapriya Park Durga Puja, Kolkata
- Lokhandwala Durgotsav, Mumbai
- Powai Sarvajanin Durgotsav, Mumbai
- Kashmere Gate Durga Puja, Delhi
- Baageshwari Devi Durga Puja Samiti, Varanasi
- Athgaon Sarvajanin Durga Puja Samiti, Guwahati
- Hyderabad Bangalee Samity Durga Puja, Hyderabad
- SMCA Durga Puja, Chennai
- Koregaon Park, Pune
