Durga Puja is the most famous and significant Hindu traditional festival. The festival includes the Puja (worship) of divine mother Durga; the mother of goddesses and the wife of lord Shiva. It is celebrated in the month of September- October. According to the Hindu calendar the festival is celebrated for 9 days & 10 nights in the seventh month Ashwin as Maa Durga has nine manifestations. However it begins on the 6th day and the first day is known as Mahalaya.
Table of contents
- History of Durga Puja
- Significance
- Celebrations of the festival
- Respect women- a Symbol of Goddess
- Women empowering initiatives by Saint Dr. MSG
- Conclusion
History of Durga Puja
Durga Puja celebrates the victory of goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, who was the king of Asuras (demons). He did tapasaya (long penance) in order to impress the Devas (Gods). Lord Brahma got impressed from his dedication and decided to grant him a boon. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Mahishasura asked Lord Brahma to bless him with such a power that neither God & nor a man could kill him. Thus, he could only be killed by a woman but Mahishasura was unaware of this fact. After getting this blessing from Lord Brahma, he went to conquer the earth with his troops; he started killing and looting people. Afterwards he decided to take over the heaven as well so that he could rule over all the three realms. He started fighting with Devas (Gods) and defeated the Indra Dev and his army of other Devas.
Devas felt humiliated and went to Tridevas – Lord Brahma (the creator), Lord Vishnu (the preserver) and Lord Shiva (the destroyer). The three lords put their power & energy together which took the form of Devi Durga as only a woman could kill him but no other woman was strong enough to take battle with Mahishasura. Tridevas gave their weapon each to Devi to kill the demon. The king of Himalaya gave a lion to Devi to mount on. The fight between Devi and Mahishasura went on for 10 days and at last Devi beheaded the Asura Mahishasura with her Trishul (prong). Hence, the Devi Durga is known as Mahishasura Mardini (the killer of demon Mahishasura). From then on these nine days are celebrated as the festival of worshiping Devi Durga.
Significance of the festival
Durga Puja is also known as Durgotsav, one of the most awaited Hindu festivals celebrated especially in West Bengal, Kolkata, Assam. The festival depicts the victory of Devi Durga over the Demon Mahishasura; the victory of good over evil.
It also signifies the motherly love of Maa Durga. It is believed that Devi Durga’s mother wanted to see her, but Devi was allowed to meet her mother only for nine days in a year. Hence, at this particular time Devi went to meet her mother and came back on the tenth day. So, this festival is a time for mothers and daughters to reunite as well.
Celebrations of the festival – Durga Puja
Durga Puja is celebrated with great enthusiasm. In the southern India, the festival is known as ‘Navratari’- nine nights. During this time people worship goddess Durga and her nine manifestations along with observing fast as it is believed that during these days’ people can achieve the spiritual powers and wisdom by worshipping the goddesses.
In other parts, it is celebrated as victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. The Ramayana is presented by doing a role play at several places in the nine days which is also known as Ramleela. On the tenth day Lord Ram Kills the Ravana; hence the Ramleela comes to an end.
The preparations for Durga Puja starts prior two month of the day especially in Kolkata, Bengal. There are official five day holidays as well for the Puja in the state. Puja Pandals are setup where the big Durga idol is worshipped. Many cultural activities, dance, songs, games etc. are also organised. People wait eagerly for the festival.
Respect women- a symbol of goddess
Durga Puja is a festival where we worship Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati and all nine goddesses. But when it comes to reality we don’t even respect the women. When it comes to education, girls are always deprived of getting higher education and son’s education is preferred over hers’. We call the women ‘Ghar Ki Lakshmi’ but do we treat her like Lakshmi! Women always become the victim of social injustice, abuse, crimes.
The devis (goddesses) are all women, if we can worship them, pray them, then why don’t the women who play the most necessary roles of mothers, wives, daughters in our lives? Let’s end this hypocrisy and injustice towards the women and provide them the respect, protection, equality and opportunities they deserve.
Women empowering initiatives by Saint Dr. MSG
In this patriarchal society the women have always been a victim of inequality and injustice. To improve the status of women & to bring women empowerment, Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan- the spiritual master & the social reformer of crores; took a step forward and initiated a number of campaigns and initiatives in society. Such as:
- ‘Kul Ka Crown’ – This unique initiative is a boon for the parents having single girl child only. As the groom agrees to stay at bride’s home after marriage, thus the daughter can carry forward the lineage of her own parents. This way the initiative ends the worries of such parents for not having any son and promotes the gender equality. Know more.
- Save the girl child: There have been slogans such as ‘ Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ which remained limited to slogans only. But Saint Dr. MSG brought this slogan into practice. People having many daughters or who was going to abort their daughters, were saved by Dr. MSG. HE accepted those daughters as HIS own daughters, provided them education, care, protection and the love of both father and mother.
- The rural women are provided free vocational training to make them self- dependent such as stiching, weaving, embroidery etc. They are also provided free sewing machines.
Saint Dr. MSG has made a big difference in uplifting the status of women and society and bringing the equality in every aspect. Know more about HIS contribution.
Conclusion
Durga Puja is a sacred Hindu festival, celebrated by everyone with great zeal and enthusiasm irrespective of their caste, religion or community. The festival is a symbol of victory of good over the evil and the strength of a woman. Along with worshiping goddess Durga, this festival also gives a message of respecting woman who is a goddess in her ownself.
