Durga
Puja is a famous festival in our state. It is also celebrated in other parts of
India. In West Bengal and Orissa it is grandly celebrated. The Hindus worship
the goddess Durga. There is a mythological background behind this festival. The
dwellers of the earth and the heaven were tortured by the notorious demon named
Mahi sasura. Even Gods were afraid of him.
On their earnest prayer and
request, the goddess Durga was born from fire. As an embodiment of Shakti or
strength, the Goddess Durga appeared before the demon. The demon was bewitched
by her beauty and was killed by her. His death brought relief to the earth and
the heaven. We celebrate this Puja in Her honour.
Durga Puja is celebrated in
Autumn Season. Clay images of Durga are made and are brilliantly decorated. The
Goddess has ten hands. She holds different weapons including a snake to kill
the demon Mahisasura. She sits on a lion which is her holy carrier. The eighth
day of the new moon in the month of Aswin is the beginning date of the Durga
Puja. The Puja continues for three days.
People
enjoy this festival. Schools, Colleges, and Government Offices are closed for a
few days on the occasion of this festival. People staying away from their
family also come to their village in this holiday and celebrate the Durga Puja
festival with their family members and friends. They put on new clothes on this
occasion. Barbers and carpenters worship their tools and instruments along with
the goddess Durga.
The image of the Goddess Durga
is worshipped in a large place. Different shops are set up temporarily. There
are toy shops, restaurants and cloth shops in that place. Children gather in
large number in these shops. They also buy colorful balloons.
At some places, operas and the
theatres are held. Exhibitions of different articles are also held on behalf of
the government. In such case adequate number of police and volunteers are kept
alert at different places to control the crowd. People are warned not to take
any stale and impure food. The drinking water facility is extended to the
crowded spot.
The festival ends with the holy
offering to the goddess Durga on the tenth day of the new moon. The immersion
ceremony takes place the next day.
