Bengali 's and kolkata are both attached too Durga puja celebrations.....until one get to experience the festivities in kolkata, one cannot feel the vibe. ...
During the month of Sept end/ oct beginning , Navratri or Durga puja is celebrated across India and now abroad too wherever Indian r residing .....But the flavour of Durga Puja celebration can only be felt in kolkata particular in the state of West Bengal ...From almost June the planning and construction of pandals starts these days . Traditional household too bring in mother goddess Durga for pujas at home besides the local clubs where it's more commercialised. ....In recent years , the local govt of Bengal is trying to give it a Carnival look totally but this idea is not that much welcomed amongst bengalis. ...We bengalis prefer the traditional ritual and prayers rather ..
Though Navratri is a 9 days celebration of Mother Goddess Durga which starts soon after Mahalaya, which is consider as the beginning of Devi paksha. ....But Durga puja starts only from Shasti.ie from the 6th day of Navratri celebration. ..On shasti evening the banana tree called kalabow is prayed and idol bodhan ie face is opened for all to see .....
The main Durga puja starts from 7th day ie Saptami. ...During Durga puja besides ma Durga all her 4 kids ie laxmi , Saraswati, kartik and Ganesh is prayed together ...it is considered that ma Durga along with her kids visit her parents home from kailash mountain in the Himalayas, which is considered home of shiva ie ma Durga ' s husband's place ......
Besides chanting of mantras, slokas by the panditji and all other rituals , the beating of the drum or the Dhak and kasha, and the Aarti performed by the pujari or panditji turns the whole atmosphere vibrant with happiness. ....ladies and gentlemen, kids and old , everyone tries to come forth in new clothes and it make the surrounding so beautiful. ...
On Ashtami ie the 8th day the puja is bit elaborative with lots of rituals , and Kumari puja and Bhog distribution. ...Every Bengali waits for their Bhog ( rice and lentils preparation ) that's offered to Ma Durga first ....it's damme tasty ....once someone get a taste of it will wait a long year for the next celebration. .....Evening mostly people prefers pandal hopping around the city all night , fun time with friends and relatives ......
Nabami morning ie the 9th day of Navratri or 3rd day of Durga Puja, the celebrations reach its peak. ....Generally the rituals starts off very early morning. ...108 lotus flowers are offered to Ma Durga on this day,so women gets up early to bloom up the lotus buds , which is truely a art to witness. ....After the puja and pushpanjali , Sandhi pujo starts ....followed by haven or homme .....it is something to be revered. ....these rituals will simply turn anyone watching to some other world and connect one's soul Almighty Father .....By evening , it's starts to turn glummy as by next mother the festivities see a end and a long 365 days wait again for next festival of Durgoutsav. ...so people prefer to enjoy all evening with lots of yummy foods, pandal hopping and loads of fun ....the whole city of kolkata bears a totally different look as if the whole city is awake all night before the next break of dawn. ..people sing and dance , and make merry ...it's just a happy time to be part of it ....
On Dasami ie 10 th day or last day of Durga Puja celebration , mother goddess is offered Panta bhaat or water mixed rice with kachur saaj and jora puti fish before she leaves for her abode of kailash mountain. ...Evening it's the immersion of the idol in the ganges , before which women applies Sindoor to idol of Durga and then on other women folks gathered in the ocassion. .this is mostly known as Sindoor khela, a happy way to bid Ma Durga farewell followed by misti mukh ie sweets. .....next 15 days it's only greeting of bijoya and sweets that becomes part of every bengalis life......
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