SCHEDULE
This year the goddess Durga arrives on an elephant and departs on a palanquin . Goddess Durga's arrival on an elephant signifies good harvest while her departure on a palanquin signifies an outbreak of epidemic.
| 1st October | PANCHAMI | From that day |
| 2nd October | SHASHTI | From that day |
| 3rd October | SAPTAMI | From that day |
| 4th October | ASHTAMI | From that day |
| 5th October | From that day | |
| 6th October | DASHAMI | From that day |
DURGA PUJA
She is also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Ambika, and Kali. In the form of Parvati, She is known as the divine spouse of Lord Shiva and is the mother of Her two sons, Ganesha and Karttikeya, and daughter Jyoti. Destroyer of demons, she is worshiped during an annual festival called Durga puja, especially popular among Bengalis.
Her Appearance
There are endless aspects of Durga described in the Puranas and Agamas and the iconography is consequently very varied. She is usually pictured as having ten arms holding Sword, Conch, Discus, Rosary, Bell, Winecup, Shielf, Bow, Arrow, and Spear. She is most often shown riding a lion from which comes Her august name, Simhavahini, "She who stands astride the king of beasts". She is gorgeously dressed in royal red cloth and has several ornaments decorating Her personage. Her hair is dressed up in a crown (karandamukuta) which then flows out in long luxuriant tresses that are darkly luminous and soothing to the eye. The various tools reflects the eminent supremacy that helps in controling the universe and obey Her will.
Weilding Energy
Goddess Durga exists eternally, always abiding in her own sweet nature and inhabits the hearts and minds of her ecstatic devotees. As Shakti power, she shapes, nurtures, and dissolves names and forms, while as subtle spiritual energy called Kundalini, She lights the lotuses fo the seven centres of awareness in the sacred human body. Goddess Durga killed the powerful demon Mahish and all his great commanders. When demonic forces create imbalance all god unite becoming one divine force called Shakti or Durga.
What is ‘Akalbodhon’?
In the 'Ramayana', it is mentioned, Rama went to 'Lanka' to rescue his abducted wife, Sita, from the grip of Ravana, the king of the Demons in Lanka. Since Ravan was invincible and several attempts to kill him had failed, Rama wanted the blessings of Devi Durga.
He knew that the Goddess would be pleased only if she is worshipped with 108 'Neel Kamal' or blue lotuses. Rama, after travelling the whole world, could gather only 107 of them. He finally decided to offer one of his eyes, which resembled blue lotuses. Durga, being pleased with the devotion of Rama, appeared before him and blessed him. The battle started on the 'Saptami' and Ravana was finally killed on the 'Sandhikshan' i.e. the crossover period between Ashtami (the next day) and Navami (the day after). Ravana was cremated on Dashami. Since the period of this worship was different from the conventional period (during the spring - 'Basanta'), this puja is also known as 'Akal-Bodhan' or a worship (Bodhan) in an unconventional time (A-Kaal).
According to Hindu Mythology it was actually king Surath who began worshipping Devi Durga during Basanta (Spring) and till date some places it is being worshiped in spring, which is known as Basanti Puja.
