Durga Puja or Durgostav is the biggest festival of the year in the state of West Bengal and also celebrated widely in other nearby states like Orissa and Assam. It is also knows as “Akaal Bodhon” in the local language Bengali. Durga Puja is celebrated with religious fervour and has a close bearing with Sharad Navratri and Lord Rama. Particularly, the last four days of Sharad Navaratri are celebrated as Durga Puja in the state of West Bengal, India.
During the Navratris, you can observe the splendid and grandeur celebrations of Durga Puja. it begins on shashthi (sixth day) of Navratri, continues for four days, with large size idols of Goddess Durga being setup in pandals all over the city. The significance of Durga Puja stems from the fact that Lord Rama sought blessings of Maa Durga before starting the battle with Ravana on saptami (seventh) day.
The Ravana was killed on the night of Ashtmi-Navami and cremated on Dashmi. The same day the idols of Durga Puja are immersed in water. On Dashmi, these idols are taken out in the form of procession with Prayers, Bhajans and Kirtans to be immersed in rivers, lakes and sea.
Durga Puja in 2020: Dates 22 October – 26 October 2020
Durga Puja in 2021: Dates 11 October – 15 October 2021
Durga Puja Mantra:
Om Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalini. Durga, Shiba, Kshama, Dhatri, Swaha, Swadha Namahstu Te.
(ओम जयंती, मंगला, काली, भद्रकाली, कपालिनी. दुर्गा, शिबा, क्षमा, धात्री, स्वाहा, स्वधा नमहस्तु ते)
Esha Sachandana Gandha Pushpa Bilwa Patranjali, Om Hrring Durgaoi Namah
(एसा सचंदाना गंधा पुष्पा बिलवा पत्रंजलि, ओम हरृिंग दुर्गावी नमः)
Bollywood movies such as Devdas and Kahaani centers on Durga Puja celebrations.