Durga Puja - The biggest festival of Bengal

In Short

   As a Bengali, know Autumn as the season of The Durga Puja. 'Puja' means festival. Durga is regarded as the all-mighty 'Devi'. Each year, in September or October Durga Puja, is observed in Bengal. Now it is not only in Bengal,  not only in India, but this puja is also observed all over the world! Officially, after Mahalaya our puja starts. Mahalaya is the last Amavasya before puja. On this day at dawn, around 5 o'clock all leading Bengali entertaining TV channels show the videography acted by leading actors & actresses. The videography is about Maa Durga & how she killed Mahisashur (Monster type). During Sasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Nabami (leading Durga Puja days) ~ the Bengali people roam around the puja pandals where Maa Durga & family are worshipped. 'Pandal' is a temporary house-like structure where 'Pratima' (statue made of clay) of Maa Durga is placed. Dashami is the day when the puja ends & we have to wait for one year. On that day 'bisarjan' of the Pratima occurred. 'Bisarjan' means floating the Pratima in the river. Durga Puja is not only notable as the biggest festival, but it is also notable as the festival of unity. On these days, every person forgetting the bond of religion, economy enjoy together.

Maa Durga & Family

These are the photos taken at different pandals. In each photo Middle, one is Maa Durga. In her left side, there is Saraswati Devi & Lord Kartick. In the right of Maa Durga, there are Laxmi Devi & Lord Ganesha. Beneath of Maa Durga, there is Mahisashur & 'bahan' (transporter) of Maa Durga that is a Lion.

• Bahan of Saraswati Devi is a Swan
• Bahan of Kartick is a Peacock
• Bahan of Laxmi is an Owl
• Bahan of Ganesha is a Rat

Traditional Maa Durga & Family

View of Pandal

View from Inside 

Maa with Purohit

   In each pic. you will see a man (standing in 3 pics. & sitting in 1 pic.) in traditional dress. This man is called 'Purohit' (priest). He mainly worships Maa Durga from Sasthi to Dasami. The dress, he is wearing is our traditional dress named 'dhoti' with a 'uttaria' around his neck.

Dhaki

Dhaki is playing Dhak (one type of music instrument) while Purohit is worshipping Maa Durga.

Baroyari

   Baroyari is the presentation of clay dolls with required background, which tells us about our current incidents.

Describing the great fighter plane pilot ~ Avinandan

A Scene from popular south Indian film ~ Bahubali

The Crowd

 The crowd at night in the street during puja days to see the pandals & Maa Durga.

At The End

 That's it. Hope you loved it. Please do comment & share to your friends who are anxious to know about Durga Puja : )