Durga Puja or Durgotsov is the biggest festival of Eastern India and, is widely celebrated in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tripura and Assam. The festival is initiated with the official invocation of Maa Durga on the auspicious day of Mahalaya (the beginning of Devi Paksha), when, it is believed, she starts her journey to earth. The Durga Puja lasts for five days, Sasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami. On the last day, the idol of the Devi Durga is immersed in water. The act of immersion of the goddess is called ‘Bisarjana’.
The city of Kolkata goes through a makeover for the Durga Puja. Decoration at every nook and corner, eye-catching light shows, beautiful pandals (makeshift home for Goddess Durga) – all these together make the festival the largest on-site art exhibition of the world.
Goddess Durga is the incarnation of eternal femininity. She is believed to be the supreme power of Creation, Preservation and Destruction. She fights against the demon, Mahisashura, to save the world from all the Satanic force. The demonic forces receive their comeuppance at the end and, the festival thus celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Devi Durga is also called Durgatinashini meaning ” destroyer of all evils”.
According to Hindu mythology, when Devi Durga decided to fight against the merciless demon, Mahisasura, all the other Gods helped her with their weapons. Thus the idol has ten hands holding lethal weapons for her enemies and also blessings for her devotees. It is also said that her ten hands actually signify, that, she is protecting the earth from every direction (according to the Hindu Shastras there are 10 directions, East, West, North, South, North-East, South-East, North-West, South-West, Zenith, and Nadir).
Weapons Devi Durga Received From Other Gods
Vishnu – Chakra (discus)
Shiva – Trishul (trident)
Varun – Shankha (conch shell)
Agni – Flaming dart
Vayu – Dhanuk (bow)
Surya – Tunir & Teer (quiver and arrow)
Yama – Iron rod
Indra – Bajro (thunderbolt)
Himalayas – lion
During the past few days, I had been extremely busy as I was visiting different idols of Devi Durga (we call it pandal-hopping) with my family and friends. It’s a time of reunion for every Bengali. The city of Kolkata never sleeps for these five days. You’ll get all kinds of food, be it authentic Bengali, Indian, Continental, Thai, Japanese, or Chinese, anywhere and everywhere. A gourmet’s delight in the truest sense! We indulge ourselves in a gastronomical divertissement for the puja days.
So, my dear readers and friends, pardon me for not replying to your wonderful comments on my posts and for being unable to go through your posts as well. I’ll try to be regular in a couple of days as the festival marks its end.
In the meantime, enjoy the Durga Puja pictures. May Goddess Durga’s blessings be showered on you. May the world be free of demonic souls. #HappyPuja
You can get some glimpses of the Durga Puja for the previous years here, here and here.
Very nice feature! Durga Puja also widely celebrate in Bangladesh..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you… আমি ছবি দেখেছি বাংলাদেশের দুর্গা পুজোর… 🙂
LikeLike
Brilliant. 🙂 Nice pictures with awesome description of the religious account of the festival. It’s my fav festival of all and you did absolute justice in pleasing a reader’s mind with this post. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. So glad you liked the pictures and the write-up. It’s our greatest festival and we look forward to the next year as soon as it ends… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I so enjoyed reading and learning about the Durga Puja Mani, and so loved all of your photo’s ❤ xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I spent 2 years in Kolkata during my MBA.
This post reminds me of the days I used to visit those pandals and enjoy the celebrations!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely pictures! Shubho bijoya dear. I have never seen Kolkata’s Durga Puja. It’s on my list but I just don’t feel like leaving my own neighborhood puja.
http://www.docdivatraveller.com/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Festivals are happy and busy times.. 🙂
The clicks are too good.. 🙂 It was a good read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely pictures and great post!! Loved going through it. I’m sure you and your family had a lot of fun and ‘pett puja’ during the days 😀 Wishing all of you a great time in the coming festivities as well 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow..lovely pics..have been reading so many posts on durga pooja lately 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha… yes, we Bengalis are crazy about Durga Pujo… 🙂
LikeLike
I can virtually savor the flavours of typical Kolkata Pujo through your post. Nice one
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked it… 🙂
LikeLike
Appreciate the efforts you put in to capture and pen down the festivities Kolkota has during Pooja.
I witnessed Pooja in Kolkata in the 90s and your poast brought back memories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy to rekindle your memories through the post… 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful pictures dear. Hope you had a great time in Durga Puja. Subho Bijoya ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoyed a lot during the puja days. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure… 🙂
LikeLike
Weapons Devi Durga Received From Other Gods
Vishnu – Chakra (discus)
Shiva – Trishul (trident)
Varun – Shankha (conch shell)
Agni – Flaming dart
Vayu – Dhanuk (bow)
Surya – Tunir & Teer (quiver and arrow)
Yama – Iron rod
Indra – Bajro (thunderbolt)
Himalayas – lion
informative with grand pictures !!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Yogi ji… 🙂
LikeLike
Awesome pictures. Shobho bijoya to you Mani. Hope you had a great time. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes…enjoyed a lot… 😀
LikeLike
Great pics..a lovely post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Amitji… 🙂
LikeLike
beautiful 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Short and compact post, loved reading this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed… 🙂
LikeLike
Great Pictures !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you… 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful snaps..I am a Christian but really love the whole bengali culture and traditions..i also own a pair of Shaka Pola..been to Calcutta just once but not during Durga Puja…will definitely make a visit now after seeing what the place has to offer 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You will love the ambiance during the Durga Pujo. I also take part in the grand celebration of 25th December…I love to visit the beautifully decorated churches and the midnight prayer really makes me feel at peace…. 🙂
Thank you so much for dropping by and commenting… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kolkata pandels are so creative! Love these pictures. I am dying to see in real some day. I have to time a visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should, Indrani. It has so much to offer at this time of the year… 🙂
LikeLike
दुर्गा जी की बढ़िया फोटो शेयर की है आपने। धन्यवाद।
LikeLike
Shukriya, Jyotiji… 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely pics of Maa Durga, This post made my day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! 🙂
LikeLike
Wow a festival with yummy food, I am sure you had a great time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yesss… 😀
LikeLike
Subho bijoya. Beautiful post. bhishon anondo pelam pore…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! Glad you liked…. 🙂
LikeLike
beautiful pics…was at Kol just a week back..Shubho Bijoya senora
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let me know when you are here next time… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure, tx ma’am
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blessings to you and your family Maniparna 😊🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Andy…wish you the same… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shubho Bijoya Moni
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Subho Bijaya…
LikeLike
Woah, what an interesting read! I can see the festivities, they are so vibrant and full of life! Hope you had a good time with your family and that you are spiritually rejuvenated as well. I was wondering where you were as i had not seen any post from you pop up in my reader. Glad you posted and updated us! Take your time, hope to see you around. Much love❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sweet of you to think about me, Zee…that really made me happy ❤
Had a wonderful time and the traces of festivity is still making our days bright. I was missing the blogging world…glad to be back and regular… 🙂
LikeLike
Almighty Maa Mahakali the most powerful Goddess out of all incarnations of Hindus.Durga Puja in Kolkatta as I have been told by my Kolkattian friends is not a festival but celebrations, celebrations, and celebrations everywhere.A splendid form of Maa Durga in lovely, graceful and enchanting pics and a very divine and pious writing by you Maniparna on this most memorable Puja.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True, it is a grand celebration in every respect! One must visit Kolkata at least once during the puja time to feel the festive wave. Thank you so much for stopping by….glad you enjoyed the post… 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely pics and the tales…Thanks for sharing Maniparna. I missed visiting Durga Puja stall this year.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Glad you liked, Upasna…hope you would make it next year… 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing shots! Wishing you a lovely Durga.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shubho Bijoya 😃
Love the pictures !
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 Subho Bijaya…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very beautiful. Thank you for this post. I learned a lot and it’s very well written. 🙂 looking forward for new ones
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot, Alina… 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely images. Shubho Bijoya! Happy Dussehra!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 aapnakeo…awnek shubheccha roilo…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the different cultures that are involved in your festival! Five days of celebration sound like a great idea — wish we had something like that here in the U.S.! Thanks for the wonderful goddess photos and have fun, Mani. xo
LikeLiked by 2 people
Blogging makes us aware of so many different cultures. I’m so happy to get connected with wonderful people like you. It seems we are connected somewhere even when we are far apart… ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, you are even more wonderful! Thank you, dear friend. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy dusshera! Loved the pictures!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked…thanks a lot… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most welcome M!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shubho Bijoya. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂 …
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hadn’t heard of the goddess Devi Durga before, although I’ve seen many-handed deities in other places. The festival sounds very interesting. I’m glad you have been enjoying it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, I think that’s one of the many advantages of blogging. It makes us acquainted with so many cultures, countries and people. Glad you liked the post, Bun… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fascinating history and art. Thank you for the blessing, and to you and yours as well.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad you liked the mythological aspect of the festival… thank you so much for the wishes… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 ….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely pics. . Thank you for sharing.. Happy durga puja to you and everyone around you. ..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Bikram… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person