Durga Puja

Durga Puja is the most popular festival of India is celebrated by the Hindus takes place in the month of Aswin or Kartik (September and October).

Durga Puja start with the first day called Mahalaya. It is also the day of the beginning of the countdown to the Durga Puja, which is celebrated in most households apart from the gaily-decorated Puja Pandals that are erect in almost every locality. It is a common belief that the Mother Lakshmi brings peace and prosperity to the human community that celebrates the Puja.

Tradition of Durga Puja
As per the age old mythological beliefs, on this day of the Durga Pooja, the demon Mahishasur defeated the Gods and their King Indra, who approached the Holy Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. They in turn sought the help of the divine mother Durga who equipped with lethal weapons, riding a ferocious lion, in all her awesome majesty, killed Mahishasur. This day, thus, also celebrates the magnificence and omnipotence of Goddess Durga. Durga is Shakti, the cosmic energy that animates all beings.

Ritual Practice
On this Durga Puja day, the Goddess Durga is worshipped as a Kumari (young girl), and make known herself in her true appearance Mahasaptami day (on the seventh day of the moon). On Mahastami day (eighth day) and Mahanavami day (ninth day) the celebrations reach in its highest zenith. On Dashami day (tenth day) the idol of Durga is immersed in water. The ferocious Goddess astonishes the devotees with her splendour and appearance of fiery valour during her short stay on this earth every year.

Foodstuff, Sweets offered for Durga
Fulkopir Vada
Luchi / Puri
Bhaat
Alur Dom
Mangshor Ghugni
Mung Dal
Lau Chingri
Bhoondi

Durga Puja Fast
It is remarkable that the present generation has retained the custom of fasting during Durga Puja. Real Devotees of Goddess Durga observe fast on the occasion of nine-day-long Durga Puja celebrations every year with full faith and sincerity. The purpose of observing fast is to propitiate Durga Ma and seek her divine blessings. Having been religiously carried out since ages during the festival of Navratri or Durga Puja, the fast has become an inherent part of the festival.
The custom of observing Durga Puja Fast is customary in Northern India. In the state of Punjab people observe fast for seven days of the nine-day-long Durga Puja Festival. The fast is broken only on the ashtami or navmi day.

Some devotees of Durga Ma consume only milk during the fasting days while some only live on fruits. Some devotees observe Ekana which means that they take one complete meal during the day. Non-vegetarian food, intoxicating substances and other forms of entertainment are completely avoided during the fasting days.

Men observing fast are not supposed to shave. Some also believe in sleeping on the ground and thereby deny themselves all luxuries and comforts.

At many places of India, there is a tradition of sowing barley seeds during the Durga Puja fasting period. In this a small bed of mud is prepared in a little container and barley seeds are sown in it. This is placed in the Puja room and cared for during the fasting period. At the end of the fast the shoots reach a height of 3-5 inches. These are pulled out and given to devotees as form of blessings.