Durga Puja 2023: Durga Puja is a Hindu festival that celebrates the worship of Goddess Durga, who symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It is one of the most important and popular festivals in India, especially in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, and Bihar. Durga Puja 2023 will be celebrated from October 20 to October 24. Here are some of the dates and timings of the festival:
- Maha Panchami (Preparation Day): October 19
- Maha Shashti (Bondhon): October 20
- Maha Saptami (Anjali): October 21
- Maha Ashtami (Kumari Puja): October 22
- Maha Navami (Dhunuchi Dance and Sandhi Puja): October 23
- Vijaya Dashami (Sindur Khela, Visarjan and Bijoya): October 24
During these five days, devotees bring home idols of Goddess Durga and perform various rituals and pujas. They also visit beautifully decorated pandals and enjoy cultural programs, music, dance, and food. The festival ends with the immersion of the idols in water and the exchange of greetings and blessings among friends and family.
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If you want to know more about Durga Puja, you can check out these links:
- Durga Puja 2023: When is Durga Puja? Know dates, puja timings and rituals
- 2023 Durga Puja Date and Time, 2023 Durga Puja Calendar
- When is Durga Puja 2023? Know the Durga Puja Date, Timing, History And Important Dates Here
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Durga Puja 2023: How do people celebrate Durga Puja in Kolkata?
Durga Puja is a festival that celebrates the worship of Goddess Durga, who symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It is one of the most important and popular festivals in India, especially in West Bengal, where Kolkata is the capital city. People celebrate Durga Puja in Kolkata in various ways, such as:
- Visiting beautifully decorated pandals that display the idols of Goddess Durga and her four children: Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya. Each pandal has a unique theme and design, and some of them are very creative and innovative. Some of the famous pandals in Kolkata are Sealdah Railway Athletic Club, College Square Sarbojonin Durgotsab Committee, Md. Ali Park (Youth Association), Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja or Lebutala Park, Sree Bhumi Sporting Club, Suruchi Sangha, etc.
- Performing various rituals and pujas, such as Maha Shashti (the day when the goddess is welcomed), Maha Saptami (the day when the goddess is invoked), Maha Ashtami (the day when the goddess is worshipped with 108 lotuses and sandalwood paste), Maha Navami (the day when the goddess is offered animal sacrifices), and Vijaya Dashami (the day when the goddess is bid farewell and the idols are immersed in water).
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- Enjoying cultural programs, music, dance, and food. During Durga Puja, Kolkata becomes a hub of entertainment and excitement. Various artists and performers showcase their talents on stages set up near the pandals. People also enjoy listening to the beats of the ‘dhaak’ (a traditional drum) and blowing the ‘shankh’ (a conch shell). The festival is also a time to relish delicious food items, such as ‘bhog’ (a vegetarian meal offered to the goddess), ‘luchi’ (deep-fried bread), ‘aloo dum’ (potato curry), ‘rosogolla’ (sweet cheese balls), ‘mishti doi’ (sweet yogurt), etc.
- Exchanging greetings and blessings among friends and family. Durga Puja is a time to reunite with loved ones and share happiness and joy. People wear new clothes and jewellery and visit each other’s homes. They also greet each other with ‘Shubho Bijoya’ (Happy Victory) on the last day of the festival and hug each other. Some people also play ‘sindoor khela’ (vermilion game), where married women smear vermilion on each other’s faces as a symbol of marital bliss.
These are some of the ways people celebrate Durga Puja in Kolkata. It is a festival that fills the city with colour, light, and life. If you want to experience it yourself, you can plan a trip to Kolkata during this time of the year. You can also check out some videos and photos of Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata online.
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Durga Puja 2023: What is the significance of Durga Puja?
Durga Puja is a Hindu festival that celebrates the worship of Goddess Durga, who symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It is one of the most important and popular festivals in India, especially in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, and Bihar.
The significance of Durga Puja is based on a legend from the Devi Mahatmya, an ancient Sanskrit text that narrates the story of the goddess Durga and her battle against the demon Mahishasura, a buffalo demon who terrorised the heavens and Earth.
Mahishasura, who had obtained a boon of invincibility from Lord Brahma, was causing havoc and subduing the gods. Unable to defeat him, the gods combined their powers to create the goddess Durga, who was endowed with extraordinary strength and weapons. The battle between Mahishasura and Durga raged for nine days and nights, ultimately culminating in the demon’s defeat on the tenth day, which is celebrated as Vijayadashami.
Durga Puja is a festival that commemorates the goddess Durga’s triumph against Mahishasura and celebrates her power and grace. It also marks the arrival of the goddess on Earth to bless her devotees and protect them from evil forces.
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The festival is a time to express gratitude, devotion, joy, and happiness to the goddess and seek her blessings for prosperity and well-being. It is also a time to celebrate the culture and heritage of Bengal, where Durga Puja is an integral part of its identity.
The festival showcases the artistic and creative talents of the people, who create beautiful pandals and idols of the goddess. It also reflects the social and communal harmony of the people, who come together to celebrate the festival irrespective of their caste, creed, or religion.
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