DuPu 01 Maa Durga with children
Ganesha, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Karthikeya
Durga Puja (Pujo)
-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्ति रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:।।
Durga Puja or Durgotsava or Sharodotsav, alongwith Navratri (nau ratri or nine nights) is a festival dedicated to Maa (Goddess) Durga, which ends on Dashmi of Shukla paksha (waxing moon) of Ashwin month of Vikram calendar, corresponding to September/ October of the Gregorian calendar. On Dashmi, idols of Maa Durga and her children, are immersed in a prominent/ nearby river/ water body.
Maa Durga, is an epitome of Shakti/ Devi form of worship, and appears in the Rig and Atharva Vedas and in several puranas. A deity named Durgi appears in Taittiriya Aranyaka, which is a book of hyms and mantras, associated with Sage Taittiriya, digital versions of which can be searched on the web.
Another text associated with Durga Puja is Devi Mahatmya, which is recited during the festival. Devi Mahatmya, also known as `Durga Saptashati’, is a Divine Book of the Soul – helping to understand `Consciousness of the Universe’. Maa Durga also appears as an independent deity in Indian texts. Arjuna prayed to Goddess Durga, before commencement of the war against Kauravas, on the tenth day. Yudhishthira sought protection of Goddess Durga, on the commencement of the 13th year of exile.
The 11th or 12th century Jain text Yasatilaka by Somadeva, mentions an annual festival dedicated to a warrior goddess, which description mirrors celebrations of Durga Puja.
Maa Durga is worshipped in nine different forms/ avatars (re-incarnations), known as NavDurga. The use of the word form/ avatar, depicting the same Goddess, could be in the subsequent birth or a regional adaptation.
The forms of Durga are
Shailaputri (Daughter of Mountain);
Brahmacharini (Celibate Goddess);
Chandraghanta (Destroyer of demons);
Kushmanda (Ku - little, Ushma -warmth and Anda -cosmic egg);
Skandamata (Mother of Skanda);
Katyayani (Daughter of sage Katyayana);
Kalaratri (Auspicious);
Mahagauri (Maha, महा - great; Gaur, गौरी - bright) and
Siddhidhatri (Giver of accomplishments);
As per Markandeya Purana, Durga Puja can be performed for 9 days or 4 days. The four days of Durga Puja are Shashti Puja, Durga Saptami, Durga Ashtami and Durga Navami. Kalp-Arambha or Akal- Bodhon is performed on Shashti (sixth day) of Navratri, and is symbolically the same as Ghata-Sthapana or Kalash-Sthapana. Lord Rama performed Akal-Bhodon of Goddess Durga, before waging war against Ravana.
Puja activities take place in well-decorated and themed pandals, ornate and decorated tents, that house the clay idols of Maa Durga. Apart from the religious congregation, Pandals are also centres of socio-cultural activity. Some Pandals focus on art and culture; with dance and singing; while others focus on culinary delights and crafts. Pandals also have a competitive spirit through awards for different categories. There are no restrictions on entry into the Pandals, nor is there any entrance ticket.
As part of tradition or custom, the clay for preparing Durga idols is also got from areas believed to be nishiddho pallis (forbidden territories; or territories inhabited by `social outcasts’), suggesting an inclusive celebration.
The preparations for Puja cover several activities – the making of the murti (clay idols) of Durga and Ganesha, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Karthikeya, in Kumartuli the traditional potters' homes in North Kolkata in West Bengal, India, and in similar places in other cities. The idols are then painted in several themed colours. The pandals are erected and decorated, which even today are largely bamboo based and eco-friendly. An artist’s beautiful sketch at one of the Puja Pandals captures the activities.
Pic 02 Artist’s Sketch of activities in preparation of Puja Pandals
On December 15, 2021, Durga Puja was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. [2]
Shashti
Maha Shashti rituals and food, mark the beginning of Durga Puja. On Shashti, Maa Durga returns to her maternal home with her children from her abode at Kailash Parbat, which is the reason/ time for the celebration, and is co-timed with harvest. Three significant rituals performed on Maha Shashti include :
DuPu 03 Decoration of Maa Durga on Shashti
1.`Kalp-Arambho’ (the beginning of Puja),
2. As part of the ‘Bodhon’ (the consecration of Ma Durga’s idol) rituals in the evening of Mahashashti, the Kulo [3] is decorated with Paan, Sindur, Alta, Sheela (stone), Dhaan etc., amidst beats of Dhaak (large drums) and sound of Shankh.
3. `Aamantran’ (inviting Goddess) and `Adhivas’ (sanctifying the stay of the Goddess in the puja room/ area of homes), with symbolic offerings to Maa Durga, with each item representing a remembrance of her subtle forms.
Every day Puja rituals start with fasting till pushpanjali (floral offering made with cupped palms, an important aspect of Durga Puja) and end with lavish feast. Maha Shashti feast for fasting women and others include:
Koraishutir Kochuri (Peas Kachori);
Radhaballavi (Puri, stuffed with urad dal);
Niramish Aloor Dum (Vegetarian Steamed Potato);
Mochar Chop (Banana Blossom Fritters);
Beetroot Chop (Fritters with filling, largely of beetroot);
Cholar Dalna (Chickpea pulse distinctly cooked);
Luchi Aloo Kumro Chorchori (Puri made of white flour, with mixed potato, pumkin and other vegetables, as a dry dish);
Chanar Payesh (Pudding with cottage cheese, milk and dry fruits); Coconut Malpua;
Baked Malai Sandesh;
Chirer Dudh Puli;
Sabudana Payash.
While priests perform rituals worshipping Maa Durga, devotees pray through Pushpanjali (floral offering made with cupped palms) or Anjali. Anjali takes place on all three days – Saptami, Ashtami and Navami. The auspicious hour for Anjali, always in the morning, is announced beforehand.
Saptami
On Saptami, the Kalash (Earthen Pot) is placed with a green Coconut and Mango Leaves, wrapped and tied with mouli (red ceremonial/ religious thread) and is called Kalash-Sthapana. Puja starts with prayers to Ganapati followed by prayers to Maa Durga.
Maa Durga is also called Naba Patrika, which means leaves of nine trees/ plants i.e. Kadali (Banana), Kochu, Haldi (Turmeric), Jayanti, Bel (wood apple), Anaar (Pomegranate), Dhaan (Paddy), Ashok and Amalta, tied together, signifying an agricultural society and harmony with nature. The Patrika is taken to a river bank and given a snan (bath), then draped in a white and red sari, with sindur to look like a married lady with her head covered and is called Kola Bahu.
Ashtami
On Ashtami, Puja starts with Mahasnan and Maha Gauri puja. The Puja of 9 pots and weapons, is performed to give Maa the strength of 64 Yoginis.
DuPu 04 Puja on Ashtami
There is a Chausanth (64) Yogini cult which had temples all over India including :
Ekattarso Mahadeva, Mitavli, Morena, Madhya Pradesh; [4]
Yogini temple, Khajuraho, Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh;
Chausath Yogini Temple, Bhedaghat, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh;
Mahamaya or Chausath Yogini Temple, Hirapur, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha;
Chausathi Yogini Pitha, Ranipur-Jharial, Titilagarh, Bolangir, Odisha.
Kumari Puja takes place on Ashtami (eighth day) by selecting a pre-pubescent girl to be worshipped as the living incarnation of Durga. Dressed in new clothes and decked with floral ornaments, she shares the stage with Goddess. One of the most popular destinations to witness Kumari Puja is Belur Math, Kolkatta, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna order founded by Swami Vivekananda. In large parts of India, there is Kanya Pujan/ Kanjak on Ashtami/ Navami.
Sandhi Puja is done when Ashtami ends and Navami begins. It marks the moment when Goddess Durga emerged in her Chamunda form to kill the demons Chanda and Munda. One hundred and eight lamps are lit. Drummers (Dhaaki) break into a frenzied beat.
Dhunuchi Naach
Fun-filled rituals take place as clay pots filled with burning charcoal are held in the hand, and devotees dance to the beat of Dhaak.
Pic 05 Dhunuchi Naach, Durga Puja, 10.10.2024
Navami
On Navami, Maa is Mahagauri or Siddhidhatri, and Puja starts with Ganapati and then puja of all the other Dev/ Devis, followed by Maha Snan of Maa.
Bijoya Dashmi
On Bijoy Dashmi, Maa defeated and killed Mahishashur. Maa Durga and her children are taken out in a procession for Bisorjon or immersion in a water body, indicating return to Mount Kailash, marking the end of the annual festival.
The rituals on Dashmi include Sindur Khela, where married women offer vermillion and sweets to the goddess. After the offering, they smear each other with the vermillion.
[1] Author, Freelance, Indian Economic Service, Senior Economic Adviser (Retired), Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
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[2] https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/durga-puja-inscribed-unesco-representative-list-intangible-cultural-heritage-humanity
[3] Winnowing fan made of bamboo slips for separating dusts, etc from grains.
Very well written. The write up puts in the entire concept and innumerable traditions within a brief space which is easily understood by the less initiated! I have heard and lived through these lores and practices since childhood and yet I find the essence is beautifully captured here. Keep it up Rohit.! 👍🏼👍🏼