HIGHLIGHTS
The festival of Durga Puja starts with Mahalaya, the first phase of the waxing moon in Aswin. Thousands offer prayers to their ancestors at the city's river banks, a ritual called Tarpan. The inauguration of the Goddess idol starts on Mahashasthi. The main puja is for three days - Mahasaptami, Mahaastami, Mahanavami. The puja rituals are long and very detailed and complicated. Three days of Mantras and Shlokas and Arati and offerings - needs an expert priest to do this kind of Puja. Because of these facts, the number of Pujas held in the family
as a community
The Rituals of Durga Puja
has reduced and Durga Puja has mostly emerged festival.
Mahashashthi
On this day Goddess Durga arrives to the mortal world from her
heavenly abode, accompanied by her children. She is welcomed
with much fanfare amidst the beats of dhak. Unveiling the face of the
idol is the main ritual on this day. Kalaparambho, the ritual performed
before the commencement of the puja precedes Bodhon, Amontron
and Adibas.
Mahasaptami
Saptami is the first day of Durga puja. Kola Bow or Nabapatrika is given
a pre-dawn bath. This is an ancient ritual of worshiping nine types of
plants. They are together worshiped as a symbol of the goddess. The
main Saptami Puja follows Kalparambho and Mahasnan.
Mahaastami
The day began with a recital of Sanskrit hymns in community puja pandals as thousands of devotees offered anjali to the goddess. Kumari Puja or the worship of little girls as the mother goddess was a special part of the rituals observed in a number of traditional and household pujas. As the day wore on, it was time for the important Sandhi Puja, which marks the inter-linking of the Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami.
Mahanavami
This is the concluding day of Durga Puja. The main Navami puja begins after
the end of Sandhi Puja. The Navami Bhog is offered to the goddess. This is
later partaken as prasad by the devotees.
Dashami
After the three days of Puja, in Dashami , in the last day, a tearful
farewell is offered to the Goddess. Most of the community pujas
postpone the farewell as long as possible and arrange a grand
send-off. The images are carried in processions around the locality
and finally is immersed in a nearby river or lake. Vijaya Dashami
is an event celebrated all over the country.
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