Durga Puja 2020: From Shashthi to Vijayadashami

 Durga Puja from Shashthi to Vijayadashami

No one celebrates festivals like India does, and no Indian festival is complete without its set of rituals. Year after year, people follow them so on keep the cultural sanctity intact, and traditions alive. Usually, the latter half the year is reserved for these festivities. Among them, is that the annual Durga Puja celebration which, though has its nucleus within the eastern a part of India — especially within the state of West Bengal — is widely known with great flourish and gusto in other states also , courtesy of the ever-growing Bengali community. See more post.

For non-Bengalis, the mention of Durga Puja would probably pull up a picture of a deluge of cultural bonhomie, theatre, music and dance performances, many ululation, chanting and a myriad of garments and hues . And to not forget, the daytime bhog and therefore the nighttime feast — a scandalous sight for those fasting round the time. But Durga Puja is more nuanced than that. Starting round the sixth day of the nine-day Navratri celebrations, Durga Puja has set rituals that folks follow. See more post  And if you're looking to participate during this year’s festivities, little knowledge will does one no good. You, therefore, need a day-wise breakup of the festival; here’s everything that you simply got to know.

Shashthi

The sixth day of Navratri is officially the primary day of the four-day festival of Durga Puja. On today , the Ghatasthapana or the Kalashsthapana (literally meaning placing of the pot invoking the Goddess) takes place. the remainder of the day is reserved for cultural programmes that mostly happen within the evening. Another highlight of the day is that the ‘agomoni‘ programme. a group of songs in Bengali and Sanskrit are traditionally sung and performed to welcome the Goddess to her maternal home.

Maha Saptami

Day two of Durga Puja begins with the pushpanjali (offering of flowers to the Goddess) and therefore the ‘Kola Bou snan‘ (bathing of the banana tree). ‘Kola‘ meaning banana and ‘bou‘ meaning wife, the Kola Bou is believed to be the consort of Lord Ganesha. As such, a banana is given a shower and draped during a white saree with a red border — symbolic of a married Bengali woman. The Kola Bou is usually placed next to Ganesha within the ornate arrangement.
Next, aarti, or the veneration, is performed following which, mool bhog is obtainable to Durga. Mool bhog, basically, may be a special sort of meal prepared exclusively for the Goddess. Only after she consumes it can devotees eat. It is to be noted that while many believe Durga Puja is all about greasy-albeit-mouthwatering non-vegetarian food, it's actually the strictly-vegetarian bhog that's the highlight of the festival.

Maha Ashtami

Considered to be the foremost important day of the festival, the third day begins with pushpanjali and aarti. On today , people usually perform the Kumari Puja, wherein prepubescent girls are worshipped for being a manifestation of the Goddess herself. The highlight of the day, however, is that the sandhi puja — which is completed right when the Ashtami tithi ends and therefore the Navami tithi begins. it's believed that in this point , Devi Chamunda — an avatar of Goddess Durga — appears to slay demons Chanda and Munda.
This puja can happen anytime during the day, depending upon the muhurat. it's also believed that while the veneration is happening , the Goddess opens her pineal eye to glance at her devotees.

Maha Navami

Just like Ashtami, Maha Navami also begins with pushpanjali and aarti. it's the Judgment Day of the festivity, and other people usually celebrate it with an awesome sense of grief. While within the past people wont to sacrifice animals on the day, the practice has largely stopped on humanitarian grounds. Now, people offer pumpkins to the Goddess, keeping with the tradition.

Dashami (Vijayadashami)

This is the Judgment Day of the festivity, which is typically marked by the normal Maa Boron — that's , prepping the Goddess for her journey back to Mount Kailash. The highlight of the day is that the sindoor khela, that married women greet and smear some vermillion on Goddess Durga, and on themselves — a bitter-sweet way of bidding the Goddess adieu. Nowadays, this ritual has become more inclusive. Men, unmarried women and even widows get to participate. See more post

Cultural and other events

Durga Puja is taken into account incomplete without a dhunuchi competition. Participants hold an earthen pot containing coconut coir, camphor and burning coal at rock bottom , and dance to the rhythmic beats of the dhak — a membranophone instrument. and therefore the most graceful performer takes home the prize.
Besides this, dance programmes, singing competitions, theatre performances, recitation and drawing competitions also are organised. Performing artistes from West Bengal also are invited to feature to the cultural extravaganza. FESTIVALS