Durga Puja-Rohit Kumar Parmar

DuPu 01 Maa Durga with children

Ganesha, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Karthikeya

स्तुति (Stuti)

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्ति रूपेण संस्थिता।

नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम:।।

Durga Puja

-Rohit Kumar Parmar [1]

Durga Puja 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, when idols of Maa Durga are immersed in a prominent/nearby water body.

Maa Durga, an epitome of Shakti/Devi form of worship, appears in the Rig and Atharva Vedas and in several puranas. A deity named Durgi appears in Taittiriya Aranyaka (book of hyms and mantras). [2] A key text associated with Durga puja is Devi Mahatmya, which is recited during the festival. Maa Durga, in her various forms, also appears as an independent deity in Indian texts. Both Yudhisthir and Arjuna of Mahabharata, invoke hymns to Durga.

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/avataars (re-incarnations), [3] known as Navdurga. These are

Shailaputri (Daughter of Mountain);

Brahmacharini (Celebate Goddes);

Chandraghanta (Destroyer of demons);

Kushmanda (Ku - little, Ushma -warmth and Anda -cosmic egg);

Skandamata (Mother of Skanda);

Katyayani (Daughter of sage Kātyāyana);

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 last four days of Durga Puja are Shashti Puja, Durga Saptami, Durga Ashtami and Durga Navami. Kalparambha (Kalp-Arambha) is done on Shashti (sixth day) of Navratri, and is symbolically the same as Ghata-sthapana or Kalash-sthapana.

Puja activities take place in well-decorated and themed pandals (ornate/ 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 little restrictions on entry into the Pandals, nor is there any entrance ticket.

DuPu 02 Stage ready for Singing performance

As part of tradition or custom, the soil in the clay mixed for Durga idol is also from areas believed to be nishiddho pallis (forbidden territories; territories inhabited by `social outcasts’), suggesting an inclusive celebration.

On December 15, 2021, Durga Puja was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. [4]

DuPu 03 Decoration of Maa Durga on Shashti

Shashti

Durga pujo maha shashti rituals and food mark the beginning of Durga pujo. On Shashti, Maa Durga returned to her maternal home with her children from her abode at Kailash Parbat, the reason/time for the celebration, which is co-timed with harvest. Three significant rituals performed on Maha Shashti are

1.`Kalap-arambho’ (the beginning of pujo),

2. As part of the ‘Bodhon’ (the consecration of Ma Durga’s idol) rituals in the evening of mahashashti, the Kulo is decorated with Paan, Sindur, Alta, Sheela (stone), Dhaan etc., amidst beats of Dhaak (large drums) and sound of Shaankh.

3. `Amantran’ (inviting Goddess) and `Adhivas’ (sanctifying the stay of the Goddess in the puja area of homes), with symbolic offerings to Maa Durga, with each item representing a remembrance of her subtle forms.

DuPu 04 Beats of Dhaak on Shashti

Every day pujo rituals start with fasting till pushpanjali (an important aspect of Durga pujo) and end with lavish feast platter. Maha shashti feast platter for fasting women and others include: Koraishutir Kochuri (Peas Kachori); Radhaballavi; Niramish Aloor Dum; Mochar Chop (Banana Blossom Fritters); Beetroot Chop; Cholar Dalna; Luchi Aloo Kumro Chorchori; Chanar Payesh; Coconut Malpua; Baked Malai Sandesh; Chirer Dudh Puli; Sabudana Payash.

DuPu 05 Food stalls on Shashti

While priests perform rituals worshipping goddess, 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.

DuPu 06 Puja on Ashtami

Ashtami

On Ashtami, Puja starts with Mahasnan and Maha Gauri puja. The Puja of 9 pots and weapons is done to give Maa the strength of 64 Yoginis.

There is Chausanth (64) Yogini cult which has temples all over India including :

Ekattarso Mahadeva, Mitavli, Morena, Madhya Pradesh; [5]

Yogini temple, Khajuraho, Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh;

Chausath Yogini Temple, Bhedaghat, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh;

Mahamaya or Chausath Yogini Temple, Hirapur, Bhibaneshwar, Odisha;

Chausathi Yogini Pitha, Ranipur-Jharial, Titilagarh, Balangir, 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 up with floral ornaments, she shares the stage with Goddess. One of the most popular destinations to see the Kumari Puja is Belur Math, 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 and devotees dance to the beat of Dhaak.

Navami

On Navami, Maa is Mahagauri or Siddhidhatri, and Puja starts with Ganapati Puja 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.

One of the rituals include Sindur Khela where married women offer vermillion and sweets to the goddess. After that 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 on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohit-kumar-parmar-841b4724) YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@rohitkparmar), twitter (https://twitter.com/rohitkparmar?s=09), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rohit.parmar.5268750/), been writing/sharing varied topics and can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com. [2] The Aranyakas are a part of Vedas. [3] The use of the word form or avataar, depict the same Goddess, could be in the subsequent birth or a regional adaptation. [4] https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/durga-puja-inscribed-unesco-representative-list-intangible-cultural-heritage-humanity [5] https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site/post/chausath-yogini-or-ekattarso-mahadeva-temple-mitavli-village-morena-madhya-pradesh-india