Durga Puja दुर्गा पूजा
Dedicated to Durga
About Durga Puja
Durga Puja is the grandest festival of eastern India, particularly West Bengal, celebrating Goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. The main celebrations span five days — from Shashthi to Dashami — during the Sharad Navratri period. Thousands of elaborately decorated pandals (temporary structures) house magnificent Durga idols crafted by artisans from Kumartuli in Kolkata. Each pandal features unique artistic themes — from replicas of famous monuments to commentary on social issues. The festival transforms Kolkata into an open-air art gallery with millions of visitors doing pandal-hopping. Key rituals include Bodhon (awakening the goddess), Adhivas, and daily Anjali (offering of flowers). The sound of dhak (drums), the fragrance of dhunuchi (incense dance), and Sindoor Khela on the final day create an unforgettable sensory experience.
दुर्गा पूजा पूर्वी भारत, विशेषकर पश्चिम बंगाल का सबसे भव्य त्योहार है, जो भैंसासुर महिषासुर पर देवी दुर्गा की विजय का उत्सव मनाता है। मुख्य समारोह पाँच दिनों — षष्ठी से दशमी — तक शारदीय नवरात्रि अवधि में चलते हैं। हज़ारों विस्तृत रूप से सजे पंडालों (अस्थायी संरचनाओं) में कोलकाता के कुमारटुली के कलाकारों द्वारा बनाई गई भव्य दुर्गा प्रतिमाएँ रखी जाती हैं। प्रत्येक पंडाल अद्वितीय कलात्मक विषयों — प्रसिद्ध स्मारकों की प्रतिकृतियों से लेकर सामाजिक मुद्दों पर टिप्पणी — को प्रदर्शित करता है। त्योहार कोलकाता को लाखों दर्शकों के पंडाल भ्रमण के साथ एक खुली कला दीर्घा में बदल देता है। प्रमुख अनुष्ठानों में बोधन (देवी को जागृत करना), अधिवास और दैनिक अंजलि (पुष्पांजलि) शामिल हैं।
Spiritual Significance
Durga Puja celebrates the primordial triumph of Shakti (divine feminine power) over adharma. Beyond its religious significance, it has become a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, recognized as one of the world's greatest public art exhibitions and community celebrations.
दुर्गा पूजा अधर्म पर शक्ति (दिव्य स्त्री शक्ति) की आदिम विजय का उत्सव है। धार्मिक महत्व से परे, यह यूनेस्को अमूर्त सांस्कृतिक विरासत बन गई है, जो विश्व की महानतम सार्वजनिक कला प्रदर्शनियों और सामुदायिक उत्सवों में से एक के रूप में मान्यता प्राप्त है।
Key Rituals & Practices
- Attend Bodhon (awakening) ceremony on Shashthi
- Offer pushpanjali (flower offering) each morning
- Participate in dhunuchi naach (incense dance)
- Do pandal hopping to admire artistic installations
- Play Sindoor Khela on Dashami before visarjan
- Bid farewell during the immersion procession
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Durga Puja a UNESCO heritage?
In 2021, UNESCO inscribed Durga Puja in Kolkata on its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The recognition acknowledges the festival as a powerful expression of community art, social cohesion, and inclusive celebration that transcends religious boundaries. The pandal art installations, which involve thousands of artisans creating temporary but extraordinary works of art, represent one of the largest open-air art exhibitions in the world. The festival brings together people of all backgrounds in shared celebration.
What is Sindoor Khela?
Sindoor Khela is a beautiful ritual performed on Bijoya Dashami (the last day) before the immersion of the Durga idol. Married women apply vermilion (sindoor) to the goddess first, then to each other's faces and hair parting, smearing it playfully in a celebration of womanhood and feminine energy. The ritual symbolizes seeking Durga's blessings for marital bliss. In recent years, the practice has become more inclusive, with women of all marital statuses participating in the joyful celebration.
What are the five main days of Durga Puja?
The five main days are: Shashthi (6th day) — Bodhon, the ritual awakening of Durga; Saptami (7th day) — Maha Saptami, the grand puja begins with Nabapatrika (nine plants) rituals; Ashtami (8th day) — Maha Ashtami, the most sacred day with Sandhi Puja at the junction of Ashtami and Navami; Navami (9th day) — Maha Navami, the final full day of worship with Maha Aarti; Dashami (10th day) — Bijoya Dashami, Sindoor Khela, and the immersion procession. Each day has elaborate rituals and cultural programs.
Festival Details
- Deity
- Durga
- Category
- Shakti & Goddess
- Regions
- West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, Bihar
- Calendar Basis
- Hindu Lunar (Panchang)
- Hindu Month
- Ashwin — Shukla Paksha, Shashthi
- Importance
- major