When is Durga Puja in 2022: Durja Puja is a major festival of Hinduism, traditionally held for 10 days in the month of Ashvina (September–October), the seventh month of the Hindu calendar, and particularly celebrated in Bengal, Assam, and other eastern Indian states.
Durga Puja celebrates the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasura. It begins on the same day as Navratri, a nine-night festival in many northern and western states that more broadly celebrates the divine feminine (shakti).
Durga Puja’s first day is Mahalaya, which heralds the advent of the goddess. Celebrations and worship begin on Sasthi, the sixth day. During the following three days, the goddess is worshipped in her various forms as Durga, Lakshmi, and Sarasvati.
The celebrations end with Vijayadashami (“Tenth Day of Victory” ), when, amid loud chants and drumbeats, sacred images are carried in huge processions to local rivers, where they are immersed. That custom is symbolic of the departure of the deity to her home and to her husband, Shiva, in the Himalayas. Images of the goddess—astride a lion, attacking the demon king Mahishasura—are placed at various pandals (elaborately decorated bamboo structures and galleries) and temples.
Durga Puja 2022: Date
Durga Puja will be observed from October 1, 2022, to October 5, 2022. With October 1 being the first day of Durga Puja and October 5, the 5th day.
Druga Puja is also known as Durgotsava. Durgotsava refers to all five day’s festivities.
The weekdays when she arrives and departs are significant and considered as an omen of the coming days.
Durga Puja 2022: Significance
According to Hindu mythology, the demon Mahishasura had received a boon of invincibility from Lord Brahma, which meant that no man or god could kill him. Mahishasura attacked the gods and chased them out of heaven after receiving the blessing. To fight off the demon king, all the gods came together to worship Adi Shakti. The divine light that came out of all the gods during the puja created Maa Durga.
Durga Puja 2022: Puja vidhi
Puja rituals begin with Mahalaya but the main festival starts on Maha Sasthi, the sixth day of Devipaksha. Ghatasthapana is considered as one of the most significant rituals as it marks the beginning of nine days of festivity. There are well-defined rules and guidelines to perform ghatasthapana or kalash sthapana by Indian scriptures during a certain period of time at the beginning of Navratri. The ritual is an acknowledgment of the goddess, and it is also said that doing it at the wrong time may invite her wrath. Ghatasthapana ritual is prohibited during amavasya and night time. First one-third of the day is said to be the most auspicious time to perform while Pratipada is prevailing.
The fight between Maa Durga and Mahishasura lasted for ten days. Goddess Durga slayed the demon king on the tenth day, and hence the day it is celebrated as Vijaya Dashami, symbolising the victory of good over evil. On the last day, devotees immerse Goddess Durga’s idol in the holy water of the river Ganges. It is known as Durga Visarjan. Before the immersion, worshippers carry out processions accompanied by the beating of drums, singing and dancing.
Durga Puja 2022: History
The first worship of Goddess Durga in history is recorded to be in the 1500s. According to folklore, landlords, Dinajpur and Malda initiated the first Durga Puja in Bengal.
Raja Kangshanarayan of Taherpur or Bhabananda Mazumdar of Nadiya organized the first sharadiya or Autumn Durga Puja in Bengal in 1606.
The festival commences on the sixth day. It is believed that on this day, only Goddess Durga came to Earth.
Each day of Navmi has its own meaning and significance. It is said on the first day of Durga Puja there was a clash between the demons and devas.
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