India Travel Tour
Packages

Durga Puja

Home >> Fair Festivals in India >> Durga Puja

Durga Puja the most phenomenon festival of Hindus is celebrated with much pomp and fanfare. The festival is celebrated in the month of Ashwini according to Bengali calendar, around September-October. The celebration lasts for five days, named as, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Nabami, and Bijoya Dashami. The first day, Shasti is for welcoming the goddess and the last day is for immersing the idol in nearby river. Beautiful Pandals are built to install the idol of goddess. Clay idols are made by local artists in a traditional way.

According to myths Lord Ram worshipped the goddess Durga for her blessings needed to fight the demon king Ravana. The puja is also termed as ‘Akalbodhan’ because according to Vedic literature the actual time for the puja is in summer. Another story circulates that gods invoked Goddess Durga to kill the demon Mahishasur.

The festival became a major festival in Bengal during the British rule. Bengali communities through out the country celebrate the festival as a medium of social and cultural gathering. They buy clothes, decorate their houses and exchange gifts with friends. The markets are filled by customers in this festive season. All the colleges, schools, offices and even government organizations are closed during the festival.

The festival is celebrated by persons of all religion with the same fanfare. Cultural programs are organized at various places. Durga puja is celebrated not only in India but in various parts of the world.