Meaning of Durga Puja

Photo: YAMIN TAUSEEF JAHANGIR

According to Hindu mythology, demon Mahishasur was creating problems for the gods and their king. Then Indra requested the holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to save them from him. They in turn sought divine help of mother Durga who, armed with weapons and riding on a lion, killed demon Mahishasur. So, Durga Puja is a celebration of the victory of good over evil.
Durga Puja is held during Mahalaya, which is the first phase of crescent moon in Ashwin (according to the Hindu calendar). On this day, the devotees get up early and pray to the goddess Durga. After the celebration of Mahalaya comes Mahashasthi. Mahasasthi is followed by Mahasaptami, Mahaasthami, Mahanavami and ends up with Vijaydashmi.
The major attractions are jatra, folk dances, songs, and shankh competition, which are conducted by the local puja communities. A grand feast is also organised. Buffalo sacrifice is performed on the day of Mahaashtami. Every pandal community organises the feast. New clothes, smiling faces, dancing devotees, chanting of mantras, amazing display of lights and the rhythmic beat of dhak (drums) are all part of the grand Durga Puja celebration. On the tenth day of the festival, Vijaydashami, the idol of goddess Durga is immersed in the river or pond with full customary rituals. This marks the end of this majestic festival.
What is celebrated as Durga Puja these days has its root in ancient Hindu mythology. However, the Durga Puja festival that is celebrated in the Bengali month of Ashwin is known as "Akalbodhon." It is so called, because the time of this worship of Devi Durga differs from the conventional time of celebration of Durga worship during the Bengali month, Basanta.
Going back to the myth and its history, we get a story that tells us about a fierce demon known as Mahishasura, who won the favour of Lord Bramha by the dint of prolonged meditation. Pleased with the devotion of Mahishasura, Bramha blessed him with semi-immortality. Being blessed with the boon that no power on Earth or heaven would be able to kill him, Mahishasura started a reign of terror, not only on the Earth but also in heaven. Because of this, terrorism prevailed on the Earth and in the heaven too.
People on Earth were already disturbed with loads of dissatisfactions; and it became worse when Mahishasura came with his evil power. Gods in heaven were assaulted and finally demons seized the deities and took their place. The green demon in the disguise of gigantic buffalo with fierce iron weapons attacked the King of the LordsIndra (Purandar). The Lord was defeated in almost no time and Mahishasura won the throne of heaven, driving out the gods from heaven. They went to the trinity deitiesBrahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar (Lord Shiva) and prayed for themselves and the people on Earth. This invasion of heaven by Mahishasura and his army enraged the Supreme Gods. Flashes flew, thunderbolts tore the skies apart and fires illuminated the three worldsheaven, the earth, and the netherworldwith glaring beams of light.
The supreme powers merged together and formed a shape of a young Goddess, who was empowered with eternal power, three eyes and ten hands with a celestial weapon in each, mounted on a lion with awesome power. Her exquisitely beautiful look with glowing face and wide-open eyes added a special glory to her personality. She was the one and only one in the whole universe who could abolish the evil power by killing Mahishasura. She was named Durgathe Goddess of war, invincible lord of power and symbol of goodness. Durga means "unattainable" in Sanskrit. She is also known Mahishasura Mardini, because she was the only power to demolish Mahishasura. She is Maha Devi, the Great Goddess, who is treated as the Mother of all mortal beings as well as the divine powers.
However, is it not hypocritical to worship Devi Durga if we believe women are weaklings in real life? Is it not hypocritical to tell young boys not to be like girls all year and then in these one or two festivals have them bow down before the Goddess? How ironic that we restrict the things girls can do in life in the name of "protection" when we gather in Durga Puja to ask a woman for protection! Some of us respect women only in the motherly form. But why should we restrict respect only for mothers? What about all the other roles a Goddess has in life? Saraswati is not just our mother, but also the daughter of Durga, sister of Ganesha, and consort of Brahma. Even when she's in none of those roles, she's the Goddess of Wisdom. Does Hinduism not teach us to respect the feminine and masculine energies equally, in any role?
I hope that in this Puja, all of us take a moment to contemplate on what implications Goddess worship has in our daily lives. Bangalees should be at the forefront of women's rights, considering that we are a Goddess worshipping community. I hope we're at least conscious of the words we use against women everyday, or otherwise they might easily become our actions.
The sounds of the drumbeats early in the morning herald the arrival of Maa Durga. The moment the 'kaash phool' begins to sway in the breeze, we know it's Sharodotsav with full of fun, laughter, shopping, eating and of course, offering prayers for all. One basic aim of this celebration is to propitiate Shakti, the Goddess in Her aspect as Power, to bestow upon human all wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge (both sacred and secular), and all other potent powers. Whatever be the request that one may put before the Goddess it is granted consciously or unconsciously. Everyone is blessed with Her loving mercy and is protected by Her.

The writer writes from Canada.