DURGA PUJA: KILLING THE TERRIBLE GODDESS

Abstract

Of all the great Indian festivals Durga Puja is celebrated with extra enthusiasm all across the country, particularly in Bengal where they celebrate Navaratri, nine nights of worship to the Goddess Durga which can continue for upto ten days, called “Vijayadasami” which means killing the demon on the tenth day.

Durga is a fierce and terrible Goddess who has the shakti (power) of the supreme God Shiva. She was invited by the Gods, whom Mahisasura disturbed, to fight on their behalf; Sakandapurana narrates her fights with demons. We know the story of goddess Durga from Purana. Tantras also regarded women as forms of the Mother Goddess, but Tantras spoke highly of the worship of maidens likened to famous deities, thus ceremonies of worship for Goddesses (Kumaripuja) happen at Tantra times.

Worship of Durga Puja is mostly practiced in Bengal where devoted worshippers read texts from the Devi-Mahatmya every day. On the last day, an earthen statue of the Goddess is floated down the river. Durga has many names indicated in Purana: Parvati, Kali, Uma, etc.

The worship of the Goddess with animal and human sacrifices allegedly originated from the lower classes, later being accepted by other social strata. People in Uttarapradesh believe that the lord Ram defeated Ravana, after fighting him for ten days. In the major cities, people burn big puppets of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhakarna.

In Thailand Durga Puja was celebrated on October 17th, 2010, at Phrasri-umadevi Temple, Silom Rd, Bangkok.