Durga Puja in Kolkata, The City of Joy is famous worldwide for its fascinating cultures, amicable people, and mesmerizing festivals. People from all over the world flock to this friendly city every year to witness various festivals celebrated throughout the year. The major festival of Kolkata is Durga Puja which is celebrated in the autumn season.
If you are planning to visit Kolkata, then Durga Puja is the perfect time to go there. The magnificence of this festival enthralls the visitors in a way that they love to come back to the city during Durga Puja in Kolkata every year.
What is the Festival of Durga Puja?
According to the Hindu Mythology, Goddess Durga emerged from the collective energy of all the Kings and Gods (devas) as an embodiment of Shakti or divine feminine power, to destroy demon Mahishasura; who was blessed to not be defeated by any man or god. The name Durga in Sanskrit means ‘the impenetrable’; she exists in a state of self-sufficiency and in ultimate power. This powerful form of Mother Goddess is highly revered in Durga Puja in Kolkata which is why her return is celebrated with much grandeur and ceremonies.
If you are in Kolkata during Durga Pooja, these are the popular features of the grand celebrations, you shouldn’t miss out on. The preparations for the festival are as fascinating as the festival itself. A week prior to the festival, the city gears up and can be seen wearing a look of eagerness and excitement as it prepares itself to welcome the Goddess home.
Why is Durga Puja Celebrated?
Durga Puja Festival is one of the grandest festivals of India. It is the cultural festival of West Bengal. It is a 10 days festival, celebrated with pride and glory in various parts of India. In some parts of Northern India, it is celebrated for 6 days. The last four days of the festival – Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami,Maha Navami and Vijay Dashami are the most important days of the festival and are celebrated with great enthusiasm.
Durga Puja is celebrated in the honor of Hindu goddess Durga Puja in Kolkata. It is a festival of the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated because Goddess Durga defeated the demon named Mahishasura as he waged the war against gods.
It is said that he got a boon that no man and any other creature on the planet cannot kill him but every boon has a loophole. As no man could kill him, all the gods assembled in the mountains where they combined all their energies in the form of weapons to Goddess Durga.
As a result, she was able to defeat the evil demon Mahishasura. (As death would only be possible in the hands of a woman). Since then, to honor the power of Shakti, the festival of Durga Puja is celebrated all over India. The last day of the Puja is known as Vijaya Dashami. It is said that Lord Rama defeated the demon Ravana and since then Vijay Dashami is also celebrated as Dussehra.
Through every story we get a glimpse of the victory of good over evil. The Durga Puja Festival has been celebrated in Bengal since the 16th century. The zamindars of West Bengal used to celebrated Durga Puja in Kolkata
Let me give you a handful of reasons why Durga Puja is famous here. They are:
- Pre-puja preparation includes loads of shopping, gifting clothes or accessories to dear ones, planning for pandal hopping, and many more things.
- Beautifully decorated pandals with special themes
- Wonderfully adorned idols
- Several cultural programs of music, dance, drama, and recitations hosted by various local clubs and organizations
- Availability of mouth-watering street food at various stalls near puja pandals in every locality
- Adventurous pandal hopping in various places to view the attractive artwork of pandals and lighting
- Sacred and delicious Bhog Prasad ( the food offered to God) at different pandals
- Last but not least the fun-filled Visharjan( immersion of the idol)
How is Durga Puja celebrated in Kolkata?
Durga Puja is celebrated in Kolkata with loads of emotions, enthusiasm, and preparations. Goddess Durga resides in the hearts of the Bengalis and their zeal and happiness know no bounds when the festival arrives.
Mahalaya Day which comes 11 days prior to Dusshera or Dashami brings the message of the arrival of Ma Durga. After that, the countdown begins and Durga Puja is celebrated for the next 10 days. Some rituals are performed in the first 5 days. However, the main festival is celebrated for the next 5 days.
Almost all the local clubs and some residents of Kolkata celebrate Durga Puja in the clubs and houses respectively. The huge ornamented idols of Goddess Durga along with the idols of her children Goddess Laxmi, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha, Lord Karthik, the demon Ashura, and the mount lion are a sight to behold as these idols as a whole tell us the story of Ashura Daman or Defeat of demons by Ma Durga. Huge pandals are built to place the idols and let the visitors get a view of the idols Durga Puja in Kolkata.
Special vegetarian dishes along with sweets called Bhog is offered to Ma Durga. Pushpanjali (flower with Sanskrit chants) are offered to the idols. The beats of dhaks, sounds of conches and bells fill the air with a magnetic aura of divinity. There is also a special dance called Dhunuchi dance where people dance with an incense burner called Dhunuchi in their hands to perform Aarti.
Men, women, and kids of different ages dress up each day of the festival and go for pandal hopping to appreciate the artwork and idol of different pandals. People flock to the stalls of a variety of food items.
On the last day which is called Dashami, the married women offer Sindoor (vermilion) to the idols to bid them farewell and play Sindoor Khela with other married women by putting the red color on each other’s faces. Finally, the idols are taken in a truck or lorry to the nearest river and immersed in the water. People take part in these elaborate processions and dance to the tunes of the dhaks Durga Puja in Kolkata.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why is the festival of Durga Puja celebrated?
A. Durga Puja is celebrated to honor goddess Durga. It is said that Goddess Durga defeated the evil demon Mahishasura. The celebration of Durga Puja is a symbol of the victory of good over evil. People celebrate and respect the power of Shakti.
Q. What are the dates for Durga Puja Festival 2021?
A. The Durga Puja Festival starts from 7th October and ends on 15th of October 2021.
Q. What are the top things to do in the Durga Puja Festival?
A. The top things to do in Durga Puja Festival are –
- Pandal hopping
- Street food at Stalls
- Participation in Rituals
- Traditional dress up
- Enjoy the cultural programs at Pandal