It’s that time of the year when the ambrosial of shiuli flowers and the scintillating glow of the pandals (an Indian marquee) hug one in. For me, the festival of Durga Puja is more than just a celebration; it’s a nostalgia that ties together various feelings and recollections, from serene autumn mornings to glistening Puja evenings. I find the festival to be a joyous occasion that unites everyone. Streets adorned with beautiful lights and decorations, it is truly one of my favorite holidays of the year!
Durga Puja, celebrated in October, is a grand Indian festival lasting over ten days. It is mostly celebrated in the eastern states of India, particularly in West Bengal and Assam. It commemorates Maa Durga’s (a Hindu Goddess) victory over Mahishasura, the demon king. It begins on the same day as Navratri, a nine-night celebration that honors the divine feminine (Shakti) and is observed in several parts of North and West India. Mahalaya, the first day of Puja, marks the goddess’s arrival, and Sasthi, the sixth day, commences the beginning of worship and celebrations. The festival concludes with Vijayadashami, celebrated as the ‘Tenth Day of Victory’. According to Hindu mythology, Maa Durga fought a fierce battle with Mahishasura for nine days and nights, finally defeating him on the tenth day. The Goddess is worshipped as Sarasvati, Lakshmi, and Durga during the festival. Large processions escort sacred idols to nearby rivers, immersing them amid boisterous drumbeats and spirited chants. This age-old tradition signifies the goddess’s journey to join her husband, Shiva,(one of the main deities in Hinduism) in the Himalayas. Temples and pandals, elaborately adorned bamboo buildings and galleries, are dotted with images of the goddess riding a lion and defiantly facing the demon rule, Mahishasura.
The festival has always been a special occasion for me. I will always treasure the memories made out of family get-togethers, hanging out with friends, pandal hoppings, eating jalebis (an Indian sweet dish), admiring the stunning decorations, and playing with toy pistols. The most thrilling period was the Puja holidays that followed my examinations. Durga Puja was celebrated at the premises of my house and when the day arrived for preparations, my cousins and I would leap with excitement, realizing the day had finally arrived. During this time, I would wake up to the sound of dholkis (a type of traditional Indian drum) instead of my regular alarms and would retire to sleep to the sounds of the same. We would spend the entire day in the pandal and would only return for lunch because we could not contain ourselves at home!
Some of the more cherished experiences were playing dandiya (a traditional folk dance from the Indian state of Gujarat) inside the pandal and buying new outfits. I still recall going out early in the morning with my grandmother to gather shiuli (a flower known for its distinct fragrance native to South Asia) flowers and make garlands for Durga Maa. While making the garlands, I would listen to my grandmother tell stories of how Durga Maa vanquished the demon king Mahishasura and how good triumphed over evil. One can never get over the delicious prasad (In Hindu tradition, it’s a devotional offering made to God in the form of food which is later distributed among devotees) served in pandals. Further, I always found serenity and calmness in performing evening aartis (a ritual that involves the offering of light to deities as a form of worship) with my relatives and lighting diyas (oil lamps) amidst crowded pandals.
As I penned down my memories for this piece, I felt sentimental and nostalgic with every recollection. While attending college is fun, being far away from home makes it difficult for me to visit home during Puja. However, the treasured memories have been a savior this festive season! With this, I wish all my readers a ‘Happy Durga Puja’. I hope that you cherish the festival with your loved ones, creating memories that are to last forever.