MAA DURGA & DURGAPUJA

        MAA DURGA

        Maa Chandi or Maa Durga is the Supreme Power. Utilising Her enormous energy She created the universe & protects it from all sorts of danger. Usually the Goddess is formless. She is present in all living & non-living objects on earth. When Her creation is in danger, She takes forms & rescues it.

        The image Bengalis worship is known as Dashobhuja ( Goddess with ten arms).  There are weapons & other objects like conch shell, lotus, snake in the ten arms of Maa Durga. She kills the notorious Mahishashur ( buffalo demon) piercing his chest with a trident. She rides a lion which also attacks the demon. Beneath lies the corpse of the buffalo into which the demon hid. The image Of Maa Durga depicts violence to the fullest. Still we are not scared of Her!

      Hinduism uses symbolism bigtime. Here the tales, rituals have an outer & an inner meaning. Symbols  make the lessons interesting & comprehensible.

 Maa Durga symbolises the power of good & the demons are vices of human beings viz. lust,anger,greed,infatuation,vanity & envy. These must be killed,at times ruthlessly, to keep our lives beautiful.Ten arms indicate the Goddess protects us from ten directions. She takes care of our body, mind & soul. Lion is the symbol of power & determination. We should try to control these as Maa Durga controls the mighty lion.   The weapons also have significance.  

     The trident symbolises sattva (inactivity),rajo (activity)  & tama (non-activity).

      Conch shell indicates OM , the most primitive sound of the world.

      Chakra or the discus rotates around the index finger the Goddess without touching it. It indicates Maa Durga controls the universe, rotation of planets, satellites etc.

      Bow & arrow symbolises the potential (bow) & kinetic energy(arrow). We should have control over these as Maa Durga has.

      Lotus is the symbol of success & beauty. The flower is born in mud but free from filth & moves towards the sun. Likewise, we should try to shed our vices & move towards the beauty.

      

MAA DURGA

12th CENTURY AD IMAGE OF MAA DURGA (THE LION IS MISSING)

     

        DURGAPUJA

        Bengalis consider Maa Durga as their daughter. They even created a full-fledged family for Her. To the Bengalis Durgapuja is homecoming of their daughter. The Goddess,accompanied with Her four children & husband comes to spend four days with Her parents. In Durgapuja Maa Durga is worshiped reverentially  as well as showered with parental affection! This is a unique relationship between God & desciple. On the last day of the pujas ladies bid adieu to Maa Durga with teary eyes. It's like saying goodbye to a daughter. In Bengali households daughters & Maa Durga have been merged.

THE ILLUSTRIOUS FAMILY OF MAA DURGA

        Durgapuja is held across the world. West Bengal stands out thanks to its people. They work round the year for Durgapuja. In Kolkata it's a grand affair.  Pandal, idol, lighting, theme bear the testimony of Bengal's creative skill & good taste.  In the narrow lane,park or on a small plot between two houses is created excellent artwork. After four days it is demolished & a new set of artworks is created in the following year.Durgapuja reminds us creation & destruction go hand in hand.

THE PANDAL IS IN THE FORM OF CHINAROSE !

CHANDELLIER

HERE THE BATTLE IS OVER & MAA DURGA HAS FORGIVEN THE DEMON

HERE THE THEME IS RAJASTHAN. THIS PANDAL IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF MERGER OF TWO DIFFERENT CULTURES.

HANDICRAFTS OF BENGAL AS THE EMBELLISHMENT OF PANDAL

THE CITY WELCOMES THE GODDESS TO SUCH BEAUTIFUL PANDALS

       In rural Bengal autumn plays the main artist. Deep blue sky, beautiful blooms both on land & in water & lush green in the fields contribute to the grandeur.

STHAL PADMA , AVAILABLE  IN CITY AS WELL

       Here it must be stated that spirit of Durgapuja is not dependent on  grandeur or climate. The joy comes from within. That's why poor villagers in remote corners celebrate Durgapuja; people brave the rain & go out for pandal hopping;  Bengalis living abroad fly down to Kolkata to buy the idol of Maa Durga from Kumartuli & perform  puja on exotic soil over the weekends !


      Durgapuja has other dimensions as well. It is used as the platform for promoting serious issues  like  women empowerment, female education, Bangal's handicrafts, battle against environmental pollution etc.  Several puja committees, NGOs, media houses gift the street children new clothes, accompany the senior citizens from old age homes for pandalhopping etc.

HERE THE THEME IS  'AFFORESTATION'

     Like all mothers Maa Durga  is a teacher who teaches us to fight against the wrong, work selflessly & make others happy. Durgapuja is Her teaching aid.



     Durgapuja is the festival of power, joy & harmony. Kalna, a town in Burdwan district is going to set an example in this regard. A puja committee in the town has selected a muslim girl for Kumari puja where she will be worshiped as the embodiment of Maa Durga. Kumari puja, the ritual of worshiping  under-12 Hindu girl reveres women power & reminds the society of the fact that equality of men & women is inevitable for its progress.

KUMARI PUJA IN RANI RASMONI'S HOUSE