Durga Puja

Durga Puja or Sharadotsav is an Hindu festival that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijayadashami.

The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar.Durga Puja festival marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. Thus, Durga Puja festival epitomises the victory of Good over Evil. It is extensively celebrated in the Northern and Eastern states of the country, especially in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, and Tripura. In Bengal, the Durga Puja is celebrated with great pomp and show. The grandeur of the Puja turns Kolkata into a new city during the last four days of the festival beginning from Maha-Shashti (the sixth day) till the day when the idols are immersed in the rivers, lakes, and seas on the evening of Dashami. 

The festival of Durga Puja is celebrated for ten days including the last day when the idol of the Goddess is immersed in a sacred water body. The fresh and cool air of the pleasant winters, the clear skies, mildly fragrant Shiuli (a type of flower), the bountiful harvest in the fields and chanting of mantras and shlokas to worship Shakti, all collectively set up the scene for the ten-day long festival of Durga Puja. The preparations of cleaning and beautifying the homes, buying gifts for friends and relatives, and shopping for new clothes for the celebrations are all done and dealt with a good time before the festival. Mouth-watering delicacies are also prepared for the period of festivities.

DURGA PUJA 2016

8th October - Durga Puja - Saptami

9th October  - Durga Puja - Mahashtami

10th October  - Durga Puja - Navami

11th October  - Durga Puja - Vijaya Dasami