SHARAD NAVRATRI OR THE AUSPICIOUS CELEBRATION OF DURGA PUJA

Durga Puja or the famous Durgotsav is the auspicious and the traditional celebration of the advent of Maa Durga or Parvati at her home on Earth. It is a warm celebration and ritual which continues for a period of 9 days. Being one of the most popular traditions in places like West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, it is not bounded at the place of its origin but has become an auspicious ceremony all around the world. Goddess Durga is the slayer of the demons and the other manifestation of the Adi-Shakti that encircles the Universe. It is represented by many other names such as the Sharadiya Pujo, Akalodhon, and also the Maha Pujo. The Hindu calendar comprises of the Puja and holds a specific sense of harmony and blessings when Maa Durga comes to bless people for their well-being and for a new life. The story revolves around the defeat of the evil named Mahishasura. This is also a memorable day when the good wins over the bad. The marked day of Dussehra is also named as Bijaya-Dashami.

DEFINITION OF DURGA

Durga is the transformed or the visible identity of the Adi- Shakti. Durga is also the meaning of the sustaining of the over life- alive or afterlife. She is known as the Mother who takes care of the whole Universe. She is also a courageous and daring warrior all within. She is the personification of beauty, wealth, love, fondness, and worth.

THE SYMBOLISM OF NAVRATRI

Durga Puja is also the devotion shown to the Goddess for the winning of the ferocious battle with the king of the demons, Ravana.

According to the vivid mentions of the mystical Hindu mythology, Lord Rama worshipped the Goddess offering her 108 lotuses of the blue color along with the 108 lamps to gain her blessings for the triumph. In the later period, he wins victory for the evil and sets up the Dharma for the benefit of mankind.

The BijayaDashami symbolizes everything good in life that succeeds in winning over anything evil. The day is wholly dedicated to celebrating the victory that Lord Rama obtains. The devotees make sure to fast and seek the blessings of Goddess Durga as well as Lord Rama to let go of all the obstacles that are surrounding life. If we fast out of devotion for the Goddess Durga during that period helps in winning over all the negative vibes or the demonic inclination that revolves around our life. The devotees make sure to gain wealth, wisdom, and prosperity.

HISTORY

During the time when the demons raised their voice against the Gods and the Goddess trying to succeed by taking away their home at heaven, Maa Durga was called upon to protect the Universe by defeating and slaying the demons that tried to harm mankind. Maha Saptami starts with the day when the battle began against the demons and it continued till BijayaDashami when the Demon-lord Mahisashura got slayed.

In the customs and rituals, Maa Durga is also known to be having ten arms and each one carries a lethal weapon that acts with the purpose of time. Each weapon has its distinctive ways to be used and carried on for the destruction of anything that affects humanity. The vehicle or the spirit animal that stays with the Goddess is the Lion.

She is lovingly called with various different names given by her children or the devotees. They are Gauri, Parvati, Mahishasurmardini, Chandika, Amba, Bhavani, etc. She is always prayed to call for the righteous decision to be made in life as well.

PLACES THAT WORSHIPS DURGA PUJA

Durga Puja is also aligned with the celebration of Dussehra all over the country. Dussehra is also called as the Maha Bijaya Dashami. The celebration takes place with pompous decoration and the whole night of pandal hopping. It is widely celebrated in Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. People belonging to the different tribes and traditions from Maithili, Bihar, Assam, and Odiya also holds a value for the celebration of the famous Puja. It is the festival that connects the people with each other. Even the citizens of Nepal makes sure to mould themselves into the ethnicity of the puja. It is also widely spread in Bangladesh and is celebrated with equal importance just like Bengal.