Durga Puja

Durga Puja Durga Puja is performed during the autumn season any year. For the Hindus, it is the greatest festival. The puja is held for the three consecutive days the Saptami, the Austami and the Navami and on the fourth day, the Dashami, the image is immersed in the water ofa army tank or a river. The image is worshipped along with those of other deities like Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh and Kartikeya. The frame, on which the said images argon installed, contains also the image of Asura ( daemon) and the lion, the vehicle of goddess Durga.There is also a rat at the feet of Ganesh. There is a chal-chitra which is a circular canvas of mat containing paintings of heavenly scenes situated at the back of the idols. The entire frame of the gods and goddesses is pose on a raised platform or altar made of wooden plunks. The mandap is decorated savilion with bonnie illumination. Every evening, the priest performs aarati, or greets goddess by waiving lamps and incense in accompani ment of the beating of drums, while the puja (worship) isSuring this great festival the Hindus spoil new clothes for their near and dear ones- They extremity to forget their past differences with their rivals enemies- After the immersion, on the liaison of Vijaya Dashami, the Hindus embrace one another as a token of love and affection, and distribute sweets among all. Durga Puja is now-a- days to a greater extent a festival than a religious rite. sometimes the non-Hindus are also found to participate in the festival as a social gesture. Durga Puja is much popular in Bengal.It is performed with more pomp and impressiveness here than in any other defer of India. People from neighbouring states come to Calcutta during the time, in order to see to it the attractive puja pavilion. Durga Puja is also held at Delhi, Bombay, Madras and other in important cities and towns of India, and also the villages. Durga Puja was first performed in Bengal by a Zaminder (landlord). Then it came to be po pular with the inlet of the sarvoJanin pujas performed with the Joint effort of about twelve Zaminders and thus it is called barwari (twelve years or friends).Now-a-days, Durga Puja is also held at capital of the United Kingdom and New York, where the Indians perform the puja every year. Mother Goddess Durga is considered as the most powerful goddess who is the betterower of strength, prosperity and all the best gifts in life. So the devotees pray to Her for various boons. She killed the demon king Mahishasura who had been troubling the gods and goddesses and occupied Indras throne in heaven. So the Mahisasuramardini. The legend is incorporated in Sri Sri Chand, a chapter in the Markandeya Purana composed by sage Markandeya.