India is a land of diverse culture and tradition and festivals are an important part of Indian life. Different places of India celebrates different festivals with great joy and enjoyment.This festival brings people together and Unite them together. In India we celebrate Many festivals like -Holi, Durga Puja ,Baisakhi, Pongal, Eid, and many more. From my state West Bengal we have the main festival as Durga Puja. There is a very popular myth behind this festival, It is told that our goddess maa Durga defeated the monster who was ruling over the gods ,the Devtas very aggressively. Finally Brahma,Mahadev and Vishnu decided to create a Avatar who will defeat this mahishasur,The monster,it was Maa Durga. So there are total 5 days in our Durga Puja actually It starts from mahalaya but if we count the main days it is 5 day named- shoshti ,soptomi ,ashtami ,navmi,dashomi. The day of the Doshomi is also known as Dussehra when Ram killed Ravan. In the festival of Durga Puja,the streets of Kolkata and the other places in West Bengal are light up with the joy, feminine power and with the glory of history.
The festival is celebrated during the month of September or October.The beautiful idols of Goddess Durga along with their children Lakshmi ,Saraswati ,Ganesha and karthikeya are installed in the mandaps. Peoples especially Bengalis wear new clothes in this pooja ,visit to different pandals ,prayer and enjoy cultural food and their festival. I personally belong from Bengali. And it is really a festival where everyone enjoys. From every religion and caste people come to enjoy to give our idol. During this pooja ,the sound of dhak ,the fragnance of shiuli flower and colourful light create a joyful atmosphere everywhere. In the day of ashtami ,every woman give Pushpanjali and seek blessings for peace and prosperity Sandhi Pooja perform between ashtami and navmi is considered highly auspicious. It’s not just in festival it’s an emotion for every Bengali. Different states of India differently celebrate this pooja like in Maharashtra and Ahmedabad they plays dandiyas .
It is also known as Navaratri. In the day of Doshomi we have to say goodbye to maa Durga and sail the idol into Ganga. After 5 days, we have kojagiri lokkhi Puja. Mahalaxmi is the daughter of maa Durga. The wood kojagiri comes from the Sanskrit word which means who is awake. According to popular believe goddess Lakshmi visits the home of devotee on this night and blesses those who remain awaken. In 2021, UNESCO included Durga Puja in Kolkata in its representative list. God is Durga represents the power of women that inspire everyone to stand before injustice and evil. On the occasion people clean their house and decorate them with flowers like and beautiful Alponas. Alpona is white colour design made on floor during festivals like Durga Puja, Kali puja ,Lakshmi puja etc.
We can often name did as white mandala on floor. Maa Durga has 9 faces named Shailaputri ,brahmacharini, Chandrakanta, kushmanda, katiyayani, kalaratri ,mahagauri ,Siddharthi. The name Ishita which is my name also means Maa Durga. For Bengali Durga Puja is often called the festival of reunion because during this time many peoples who live far away from their families return home to celebrate this pooja with their family relatives and friends who have not meet since months meets in this festival. Durga Puja truly represents the historic culture of India and continue to spread joy and hope among people every year. There are many songs in Bengali as well as Hindi which are depicted to Goddess Durga. Godess. Durga’s family include Mahadev as her husband ,Ganesh and kartikya as her son ,Lakshmi and Saraswati as her daughter. The idols of Maa Durga are made up of Mati which means soil. The places where Idols are made, known as kumartuli. In Durga Puja every child get holiday from school ,tuitions and from home studies, so it’s an another enjoyment for children’s.
Not only in India Durga Puja is celebrated in some parts of otherwise like Japan , United States, Canada ,Australia ,Singapore and some places in Europe. Not very popularly, but can full fill the wishes of the person who cannot come and join their family due to work from foreign country to India. A famous dance is very popular in this occasion which is Dhunuchi Nach which means Dance with traditional earthen incense burner used during Durga Puja it is usually made up of clay and filled with burning coconut husk. Pandals that are made in Kolkata are theme based pandals means there is will be some theme and some moral behind the pandals. Themes like environmental conservation ,women’s empowerment ,rural development and heritage preservation. There is bhog or community feast which include khichdi ,labra, chutney and payesh. Nowadays many organisation decided to commit eco friendly celebration means to use the material which are biodegradable in nature.
At last Durga Puja is much more than a religious festival it is a celebration of joy, art ,culture and togetherness .It brings peoples of different community and different religions ,cast ,colours in one place. Durga Puja is one of the most beautiful festivals in India. The festival remind us about women’s power. That no woman is less than a man. It also teaches us value of unity ,kindness and happiness. Maa durga’ was kind, helpful but during mahishasur vadh she was aggressive and rude. Do the festival last only a few days it’s Mayuri remain in our hearts throughout the year. As the festival comes to the end ,we had to say Goodbye to God is with the hope of welcoming her next year again. We often tell a dialogue”asche bochor abar hobe”which means that in the coming year ,we will celebrate this pooja again. In many places animals sacrifices are practiced in which animals are killed and named as Prasad of Pooja but i think it’s wrong, why to take one’s life in such auspicious occasion. I prefer to cut fruits and give it as Prasad of Pooja.Music and dance add more excitement to Durga Puja.
For me, Durga Puja is the happiest time of the year. It brings smiles to people’s faces and creates unforgettable memories. The colourful lights, cheerful atmosphere, and time spent with family and friends make this festival truly special. I eagerly wait for these few days throughout the year. I love wearing new clothes, visiting beautifully decorated pandals with my parents and friends, and eating my favourite foods like biryani, rolls, and ice cream. The sound of the dhak and the bright lights make the atmosphere cheerful and lively. I also enjoy taking photographs and spending time with my grandparents, cousins, and relatives. These moments become sweet memories that I always cherish. Though I feel a little sad when the festival comes to an end, I feel happy thinking about all the fun and happiness it brings.
Durga Puja teaches us to live together with love, respect, and joy. That is why Durga Puja is very special to me, and I always look forward to welcoming Maa Durga again with the same excitement and happiness.In conclusion, Durga Puja is the most special and exciting festival for me. Every year, I wait eagerly for these joyful days. I love spending time with my parents, grandparents, cousins, and friends. One of my favourite things is visiting different pandals at night. Among them, my favourite is Sreebhumi Sporting Club Puja because of its beautiful decorations and amazing lighting. Every year, the theme is different and attracts many visitors. I feel very happy and excited whenever I visit this pandal with my family.
I also enjoy wearing new clothes, eating delicious food, and taking photographs with my loved ones. The sound of the dhak, the fragrance of flowers, and the cheerful atmosphere make Durga Puja even more memorable. During these few days, everyone seems happy and busy enjoying the festival. I love seeing the colourful lights and beautifully decorated idols, which make the whole city look magical.
Although I feel sad when the festival comes to an end, I keep all the sweet memories in my heart. Durga Puja teaches us to spend time with our loved ones and share happiness with others. For me, it is not only a festival but also a time of joy, fun, and togetherness. As we bid farewell to Maa Durga, I always pray for peace and happiness and eagerly wait for the next Durga Puja with the same excitement and enthusiasm.In conclusion, Durga Puja is my favourite festival because it fills my life with happiness and excitement. I love visiting different pandals with my family and friends, but my favourite is Sreebhumi Sporting Club because of its beautiful lights and unique themes. I enjoy wearing new clothes, eating delicious food, and taking photographs with my cousins. Though I feel sad when the festival ends, I always keep its sweet memories in my heart and eagerly wait for Durga Puja to come again.
ASCHE BOCHOR ABAR HOBE ❤️
By: Ishita Biswas
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