Durga Puja 2023: Date, Time, Rituals, Legends and Importance
Isabella Bartlett
Story of Durga Puja in Bengali Tradition
Durga Puja, according to Bengali tradition, commemorates the descent of Goddess Durga and her offspring to Earth. She and her husband reside in the Kailash Mountain, and every year, she travels there to meet her parents and followers.
Maa Durga and her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, and Ganesha arrive during the Durga Puja festival.
When she arrives, there is a lot of joy, and on Dasami Day, there is a lot of sadness when she leaves.
Story of Goddess Durga and Mahishasura
The principal legend surrounding Durga Puja is the one of Goddess Durga destroying the demon Mahishasura. The demon spent years making amends and obtained a blessing from Lord Brahma that he would only be destroyed by a lady.
Mahishasura began his tyranny after receiving the boon. He got rid of Dharma in all its forms. The Adharma controlled the entire cosmos
All of the gods of the universe contributed their strength to defeating the monster, and Mother Goddess Durga materialised as a result of the combined might. The demon army, its top generals, and finally the buffalo-headed Mahishasura were all destroyed after she assumed several forms.
Durga Puja Impotance
Goddess Durga stands for the harmony of all benevolent forces on earth. She cleans the debris that Tamas (inertia) and Rajas have caused to accumulate in human minds (passion). She expels all evil and Adharma on her annual visit. She bestows Sattva upon her worshippers (Purity).
Her annual appearance stands for the annihilation of evil and the ushering in of happiness, peace, wealth, fertility, plenty of food, and good health.