Durgostav: Brief Look Inside

“Pujo-pujo gondho” .. a very familiar and household phrase of all the Bengalis during this period of year. In the month of sep-oct the festive mode gets turned on among all indians but especially among the bengalis. Mostly it is celebrated as Navratra but in West Bengal it is called Durgostav (Durga Pujo). The enthusiasm of bongs get shoted up month backs but its on peak during the shukla paksha of Ashwin Month (according to the Hindu Calender and september-october as per Georgian calender).  The festival marks its beginning with Mahalaya and finally on tenth day is Bisorjon (for a solemn goodbye to Durga) .  The tenth day after bisorjon is celebrated as Vijoya dashami.   This Vijay Dashami is observed as Dusshera in the other parts of India and Ram-leela is enacted.

Durga Puja festival marks the battle of goddess Durga with the powerful buffalo demon Mahishasura, and her emerging victory. One of  story behind this celebration is goddess Durga comes to her home from her in-laws home with goddess Saraswati (goddess of knowledge and music),  goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth, prosperity), Lord Ganesha(god of good beginnings) and Lord Kartika  (god of war) on Mahalaya to start the battle against evil. Lord Shiva husband of Goddess Durga is also worshipped. On Shasthi (sixth day of the celebration) Goddess is welcomed in all the pandals and temples.

The Durgostav is celebrated during the post monsoon harvest season. The Sculptures of Goddess is made with clay  and straw which are biodegradable but these days artists are using different biodegradable material for making the sculpture of goddess. Pandals are made according to various theme . There are many pujo pandels and committes who select uniques themes for their each year pujo (Kolkata’s Bhowanipore and Santosh mitra pujo commitee are among the prize winners for theie unique pujo theme). Some of the most famous Kolkata’s Pujo Pandals are enlisted below

Lake Town Adhibasi Brinda

Kumartoli Park

Arhitola Sarbajanin Duratsab

There are many more pandals in kolkata which are made out of unique ideas and hard work of the group of artisans. Not only  West Bengal, Bihar , Odisha and other states also marks the festivity of Durga Puja. The Indians outside India has taken along this tradition outside the country as a result Durga Puja is celebrated outside india also.

Durga Puja in Canada

Durga Puja in Australia

Discussing the events of Durgostav:

Mahalaya: the first day of Mahalaya Goddess Durga starts her journey to earth

Bodhana: Rituals for awakening and welcoming the goddess to be a guest, done on the sixth day of the festival i.e. on Sashti.

Adhivasa:  ritual where offerings are made to Goddess Durga, where each item represents a remembrance of subtle forms of her. It is completed on the sixth day

Saptami: bathing of the goddess, selection of the priest,  prayers (arati), recitation of texts describing Durga heading to war against evil, the ululu ritual (group meditation and scream-like crying at high points by women), done on the seventh day of the festival i.e. MahaSaptami

Mahastami: prayers, recitation and enactment of Goddess legends and scriptures on the eighth day. The day is significant because the moment when it ends and ninth day begins is considered the moment Durga kills the buffalo demon, the good once again emerges victorious over evil.

Sandhi Puja:  celebration of the climax of war. In some regions, devotees offers sacrifice an animal or symbolic remembrance substitutes it. The surrogate effigy is smeared in red vermilion to symbolize the blood spilled. The goddess is then offered food (bhog) by women.

Mahanavami:  on ninth day celebration of Goddess Durga’s victory and Vedic style homa (fire oblation) rituals takes.

Vijaya Dasami: the tenth and last day, marked by a great procession where the clay statutes are ceremoniously walked to a river or ocean coast .

Sindoor Khela: Women apply sindor (vermilion) on each other celebrating Sindoor Khela.

Amongst all these we cannot miss out Dhakis and Dhunochi Naach

Dhakis : traditional drummer

 

Dhunachi Naach: Dhunachi is an clay incense burner used for arati or ritualized dance worship. Dancers take this Dhunachi and dance in front of the idol.