Durga Puja is one of the most important festivel of Bengalies. The festivel goes on for five days. People play dhak, dhunuchi and shiuli on that occasion. The occasion starts from Mahalaya day, the day durga was assigned the task of eliminating evil.
"Jai Jai Jai Giriraaj Kishori Jai Maheshmukh Chadrachakori
Jai Gauri Maa Teri Jai Ho Gauri Maa
Amar Suhaagan Jai Devi Maa"
Durga Puja is widely celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Orissa and Tripura where it is a five-day annual holiday.In West Bengal and Tripura which has majority of Bengali Hindus it is the Biggest festival of the year. Not only it is the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout the State, but it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali society.Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya.
"Jai jai maa Jai jai maa
Shatnaam pravakshyaami shrinushwa kamlaanane,
Yasya prasaad maatren durgaa preetaa bhavet sati
Om sati saadhwi bhav preetaa bhavaani bhavmochini,
Aaryaa durgaa jayaa chaadyaa trinetraa shooldhaarini
Pinaak dhaarini chitraa chandra ghantaa mahaatapaah,
Mano budhir hankaaraa chitt roopaa chitaa chitih
Sarv mantra mayi sattaa satyaanand swarupini,
Anantaa bhaavini bhavya bhavya bhavyaa sadaagati
Shaambhavi dev maataa sha chintaa ratna priyaa sadaa,
Sarv vidyaa daksh kanyaa daksh yagya vinaashini
Aparnaa nek varnaa cha paatlaa paatlaavati,
Pittambar paridhaanaa kaal manjeer ranjini
Abhay vikramaa kruraa sundari sur sundari,
Van durgaa cha maatangi matang muni poojitaa
Braamhi maaheshwari chaindri kaumaari vaishnavi tathaa,
Chaamundaa chaiv vaaraahi lakshmeeshcha purushaa kritih
Vimlotkarshini gyaana kriyaa nityaa cha buddhidaa,
Bahulaa bahul premaa sarv vaahan vaahnaa
Nishumbh shumbh hanani mahishaa sur mardini,
Madhu kaitabh hantri cha chand mund vinaashini
Sarvaasur vinaashaa cha sarv daanav ghaatini,
Sarv shaastra mayi satyaa sarvaastra dhaarini tathaa
Aneshastra hastaa cha anekaastrasya dhaarini,
Kumaari chaik kanyaa cha kaishori yuvti yatih
Apradha chaiv praudhaa cha bridhmaataa balpradaa,
Mahodari muktkeshi ghor roopaa mahaabalaa
Agni jwaalaa raudra mukhi kaal raatristapaswini,
Naaraayani bhadrakaali Vishnu maayaa jalodari
Shivdooti karaali cha anantaa parmeshwari,
Kaatyaaini cha saavitri pratykshaa bramha vaadini
Ya idang prapathen-nityang durgaa naam shataashtakam,
Naasaadhyang vidyate devi trishu lokeshu paarvati!"
Durga Puja is also celebrated in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir, Karnataka and Kerala.Durga Puja is also celebrated as a major festival in Nepal and in Bangladesh where 10% population are Hindu. Nowadays, many diaspora Bengali cultural organizations arrange for Durgotsab in countries such as the United States, Canada, Germany, France, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Australia,Singapore.
The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists
identified Durga with India, she became an icon for the Indian independence movement.Durga Puja is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga.It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi , Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami.
"Man Waanchit Var Denewaali Rakhiyo Amar Suhaag Ki Laali
(jai Gauri Maa Teri Jai Ho Gauri Maa
Amar Suhaagan Jai Devi Maa) "
At the end of six days, the idol is taken for immersion in a procession amid loud chants of 'Bolo Durga mai-ki jai' and 'aashchhe bochhor abar hobe' and drumbeats to the river or other water body. It is cast in the waters symbolic of the departure of the deity to her home with her husband in the Himalayas.
"Maa Maiyaa Shrigaar Teraa Laal Hai
Laal Mahavar Laal Laal Mehandi
Laal Sindoor To Laal Laal Chunari
Mrugmada Kaa Tilak Tere Bhaal Hai
Darshan Karake Ye Manavaa Nihaal Hai
Wo Gauri Shrigaar Teraa Laal Hai"
The Devi Durga which is worshipped has three figures-Uma, Gauri and Parvati, where Uma is the light, Gauri is brilliant yellow and parvathi is the goddess of whole world. Kali, Chandi and Bhairavi are three forms of Durga- where Kali, ˜the black™, Chandi,˜the fierce™ and Bhairavi, the˜terrible, all being the creations of god.
Historically, Mahishasur a demon who acquired immense strength were unable to be foughtby even Lord Vishnu or Lord Shiva. Only the Durga with her eighteen arms was able to kill Mahishasura.Durga was known for her anger, aggressiveness, courage and valor. Thus goddess Durga was called by people for saving from the violent powers of evil. Durga Pooja which is celebrated well especially in Bengal is in her honor,for the victory over evilness.
Durga Puja Songs :
1. Jaago Durga Dashaprohoronodharini - Dwizen Mukherji
2. Jai Jai Japya Jaye
3. Jatajuto Samarjukta Mardhendy Krita Shekharam
4. Jayanti Mangala Kali - Pankaj Mallik
5. Jayonti Mangala Kaali
6. Maago Tobo Bine Sangeet Prem Laloth - Sumitra Sen
7. Nomo Chandi Nomo Chandi - Bimal Bhusan
8. Ogo Aamar Aagomoni Aalo - Sipra Basu
9. Shanti Dilay Bhori - Utpala Sen
10. Shrubhara Sankhya Robey - Arati Mukherji, Asima Bhattacharya, Shyamal Mitra
11. Sinhasta Sashi Shekhara
12. Tabo Achinto Rupa Charito Mahima - Maanabendra Mukhopadhay
13. Yah Chandi
