DURGA DURGATINASHINI
A bit belated ,but I was waiting for sufficient data.In this blog I have tried to tell you all, something about Durga puja. Most facts you probably know,but this is for the benefit of people who want to know.
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| MA DURGA |
Durga Durgati nashini. Meaning "Durga the goddess who destroys ill fate.Like every year she has come and gone.But she will come again next year.
या देवी सर्वभुतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः
To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Power,
Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.
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| ANCIENT SCULPTURE OF DURGA SLAYING MAHISHASURA |
As in Hindu mythology,Like Sri Ganesha,who returns to his parents in Kailas (Kailas mountain,the abode of Shiva ,MA Durga's consort)) after being with us for several days,Ma durga also visits us once a year and goes back to Kailas on the Dasami Visarjan (Immersion) day.Her idol along with the idols of her children Lakshmi (goddess of wealth),Saraswati (goddess of learning),Lord Ganesha (the first and foremost deity for worship)and Karthik (god of love and weapons) are worshipped for five days from Sashti to Dasami .Durga puja begins on of the sixth day of Shuklapaksha, or the Devipaksha, the lighter fortnight, in the month of Ashvin, according to the lunar Hindu calendar.
Durga or Simhavahini (seated on a lion)or Mahishasuramardhini (slayer of the asura/demon mahishasura) as she is known, is an avtar of Shakti (the goddess of power)/Parvathi (the daughter of king Parvathraj) and the consort of Lord Shiva.
The demon Mahishasura (meaning the buffalo demon) ,according to Hindu mythology ,was born to his father Ramba,head of the asuras and princess Mahishi who was cursed to be a water buffalo.So he could change easily from the form of a buffalo to a human like form.Like all demons,Mahishasura was pure evil and he had meditated on Lord Brahma ( the creator of the universe)and got a boon that no man can slay him.So he used to to terrorise all the rishis/munis (saints)and devas(the rulers of heaven).
The devas became tired and depressed ,so they centralised all their energies into a woman ,the form of Shakti and hence Durga was created.She was given the power of all devas and weapons.So Durga slayed the demon Mahishasura .
Good triumphed over sheer evil.
Mysuru gained it's name from Mahishasuramardhini,the slayer of Mahishasura. There is a statue of the demon Mahishasura at the base of Chamunda hills in Mysore.
Bodhan/Stapan/installation of the goddess occurs on Sashti day,(the sixth day of Navarathri festival celebrated mainly in South India).And the revelry and worship continues till Visarjan (immersion of the idol in rivers or sea ,the belief that by doing so,The Holy Mother goes back to her place of residence,Mount Kailash. The pure form of Durga puja rituals can be seen in Belur math puja in Kolkata and certain Bonedi bari pujas.(IN ANCESTRAL HOMES WHERE PUJA HAS BEEN CONDUCTED THROUGH SEVERAL DECADES)
In these Bonedi bari puja ,the goddess has a permanent stage or "Dhalan"where every year Durga puja is celebrated with traditional rituals and maintaining the actual sanctity of the puja.
Here are a few photos of a "Bonedi bari ,De bari(house)in Serampore.
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| DURGA DHALAN |
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| ENTRANCE TO "DE BARI" DURGA MANDAP/DHALAN. |
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| DE BARI DURGA |
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| TIME TABLE FOR THE PUJA RITUALS |
We will talk about the special rituals of a bonedi bari(De bari) puja a bit later on.
Maha Sasthi Day day starts early with Kalparamba ritual being done in the early hours of the morning. It deals with the Sankalpa to conduct the puja properly and by abiding all the rituals and customs of Durga Puja.The ritual consists of installing the ghata, water-filled copper pot, at a corner of Durga mandap and offering worship to Sri Sri Ma Durga .
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| KALPARAMBHO IN BELUR MATT |
Bodhan marks the beginning of the puja rituals.Traditionally the goddess is worshipped beneath the Bilwa tree at dusk and her presence is invoked.In the non availability of a bilwa tree,a bilwa twig is used.
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| BODHAN IN BELUR MATH |
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| BODHAN IN DE BARI IN SERAMPORE |
After Bodhan,Aarthi or worshipping the gods with lighted oil lamps and Dhunuchi is done.
Dhunuchi is a native Indian incense burner used during Aarti. The Dhunuchi has a large cavity held by a stem for holding it.traditionally made of earthenware so that heat is insulated from the handle and it can be held in the hands for a long duration without discomfort.It is lit by placing burning coal at the bottom, which ignites a layer of slow-burning coconut husk, on which incense (usually camphor or Dhuno powder)is sprinkled.
The next day in the early morning of Saptami,the rituals start with Nabapatrika,another form of worshipping the goddess in the form of nine plants.It is also called kola bou .The Navapatrika is another form in which the Goddess is worshipped during Durgotsav.
It consists of nine types of plants - a banana or kadali tree, rice or dhanya plants in a bunch, bilva twigs, a turmeric or haridra plant, aswattha or banyan twigs, man kachu (a special Indian vegetable),a jayanti plant, a part of the aparajita creeper and another variety of the afore-mentioned kachu.. These are tied together along with a pair of untampered, unseparated bilva fruits fresh from the tree. At the end of this ritual,the entire structure strikingly resembles a female human figure. A sari, usually red or white with red border, is draped around it, thus further producing a pronounced effect of the feminine form.. This figure is worshipped as Navapatrikavasinyaii Durga, or Durga residing in the nine plants.
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| NABAPATRIKA /KOLABOU |
Nabapatrika is installed in the Durga mandap and Saptami puja begins.There is chanting of mantras/hymns throughout the day and Aarthi is done.The Sandhya aarthi is an important ritual and several people gather around to see it.
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| Sandhya Aarthi with dhunuchi |
The next day is Ashtami and people flock to the pandals in fasting stage and after a purifying bath and with puja materials,flowers etc.The priest/purohit recites sanskrit hymns glorifying Ma Durga and the people repeat them and pray.They offer flowers to Ma Durga.
On Ashtami or the eighth day of the festival a small girl ordinarily aged 5 -7 yrs is worshipped in the dress and ornaments of Ma Durga and as Ma Durga.This ritual is known as "Kumari puja"
The little girl is is so empowered with mantras that she becomes Ma Durga till the puja is completed.She remains mantra mugdha (enchanted by the mantras)
and ceases to be a human being.During that phase the baby girl does not even move or ask to go to the toilet.
India is an ancient country with beautiful culture and traditions.The ancient mantras/hymns have been passed on to us through several decades by our ancestors.If they can hold a baby girl in a fixed position without moving or wanting to use the wash room,they are really great.Such is the power of our mantras.This Kumari puja is a great crowd puller in Belur matt of RAMKRISHNA MISSION.
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| RAMAKRISHNA MISSION BELUR MATH |
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| ASAN/SEAT FOR KUMARI |
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| SWAMIJI CARRYING THE BATHED AND DRESSED KUMARI |
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| KUMARI SEATED ON THE ASAN THE PRIEST INVOKING THE GODDESS |
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| THE KUMARI BEING WORSHIPPED AS THE GODDESS PICTURES COURTESY BELUR MATH |
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| DE BARI KUMARI PUJA |
Sandhi puja is a beautiful sight to watch.The goddess is worshipped with 108 oil lamps,108 lotus flowers and recital of sanskrit mantras.It is the "Chamunda devi" form of Durga who is worshipped during ''Sandhikhan".A single whole fruit (preferably red), hibiscus flowers, saree, uncooked rice grains, jewellery if you are offering any and bel leaves or a garland of 108 bel leaves.. Every family or community has its own unique way of offering these ingredients to the Goddess but the 108 lamps and lotuses and bel leaves remain constant in every household.
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| SANDHI PUJA |
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| 108 LAMPS. |
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| SANDHI PUJA IN BELUR MATT |
There is an interesting story behind Sandhi puja.Sandhikhan is said to be the last twenty to forty minutes in Ashtami and before navami.This the time when Goddess Durga in her Chamunda devi form killed the asuras Chando and Mundo who were allies of Mahishasura .
Goddess Durga appeared before the demon Mahishasura in golden color and weapons in all her ten hands gifted by the devas. While the ferocious battle was going on,the asuras Chundo and Mundo attacked Durga from the back much against battle rules.So Durga got angry and her face turned blue.Her third eye appeared.In this "Chamunda devi (killer of Chundo and Mundo) form,she killed Chundo and Mundo with her sword.Hence she became Chamunda,the blood curling form of Ma Kali.
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| MA CHAMUNDA DEVI KILLING ASURAS CHUNDO AND MUNDO |
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| DECORATED DAK |
Dhunuchi dance is also performed by both men and women.The organisers of the pujas conduct competitions and give prizes to the best dhunuchi dancers.The dhunuchi dancers perform various difficult stunts.
On Dasami after the usual pujas,come the rituals of "Baran" and "Sindhoor khela".Baran is giving final fairwell to Durga .She is given betel leaves(pan) to chew,given misti(sweets) and "Sindoor" or vermillion is applied on her maang ( the forehead.).And she is given water to drink. Just like bidding farewell to a beloved daughter. Then the ladies whisper into her ears "Aasche bocchar aabar aasbe"("Next year come again" )
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| BARANER THALA |
After that the married ladies apply vermillion, "Sindhoor" to each other on the foreheads and cheeks. They usually wear the traditional white saree with red borders.
After Sindhoor khela,it is time for farewell,taking the images of Durga and her children for immersion/Visarjan in a nearby river or sea.Usually the images are immersed in Ganges river.
This is done with much fanfare to the beats of Dak and crowds go along or wait near the river to see the immersion ceremony.
After immersion comes "Bijoya".This marks the end of the annual festival. Young people touch the feet of elders. Elders bless the young. Men of the same age perform Kolakuli, a kind of hugging gesture. Special sweets, especially "Naru"made with coconut and jaggery, are distributed. Earlier, it was the women’s job to make different kinds of savouries and sweets at home to be distributed during Bijoya. Nowadays, people mostly buy the eatables from shops.
Some old house holds who have been performing Durga puja in their houses for decades are called "Bonedi baris".Each family have their own rituals.I will tell you about one such famous household,the Zamindar bari of Serampore,the "De bari".
The resident god/devta of De bari,"Sridhar or Narayan shila,and Ma Lakshmi in the form of a "Kunko"( an earthenware vessel used for measuring paddy) are worshipped first and brought down to the Durga dalan from the room where there are worshipped. The kunko is decorated with red saree and adorned with sindoor.The idols are placed in a "sinhasan "and worshipped with Durga on all the days.
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| DURGA DALAN |
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| DURGA IDOL BEING DECORATED |
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| ENTRANCE TO DE BARI (NOTE THE BANYAN PLANTS(KOLA GACH)IN THE ENTRANCE) |
On Ashtami,there is a ritual called "Dhuno podano".Married senior ladies sit in the dalan and youths who help out place earthenware flat vessels called "Shara" on straw bhires (to buffer the heat or gamchas (towels) on the heads of the ladies.The shara contains burning Dhuno which is a powder used in puja and in dhunuchis.
After the rituals are conducted with mantra chanting,children and junior ladies sit on the laps of these senior ladies.It is said that by doing so,the blessings or power they have achieved from the mantras are transmitted to the children and juniors.
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| DHUNO PODANO |
The actual puja is done to the "Gat" (a bronze pitcher decorated with mango leaves with a coconut placed on it.The pitcher contains sacred water from the river .Ma Durga is worshipped in the Gat form.
During Sandhi puja in De bari 108 lamps are lit. Strips of banana stems are attached to the 108 lamps from the Gat .Formerly "Bali" or sacrifice of goats was done during Sandhi puja. Then the practice of sacrificing pumpkins or fruits began.Nowadays,Bali is only done through mantras.
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| SANDHI PUJA IN DE BARI |
And "Bera Anjali" ,a special form of Anjali performed by married couples is done on Navami.Married ladies stand in a line on one side of the dalan and their husbands on the other side .They circumnavigate the Durga idol together.
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| BERA ANJALI |
On Dasami day the Durga idol is brought down from her manch to the dalan.After that,there is Dhunuchi dance,Baran and Sindhoor khela.
In De bari, they do not carry the idols to the immersion ghat in vehicles.For this purpose,a bamboo raft like structure is made and Sri Ma durga and her children are carried to the ghat on the shoulders and heads of the De bari youths.
After visarjan the De bari people return to the dalan to be blessed by elders and purohits (priests).
The families in De bari take turns(pala) to perform the puja every year.The family head of the chosen family does "Sankalpo" (promise to perform the puja according to tradition and maintaining sanctity )Well before the puja, on the Rathjatra day.And on that day the "katamo" or basic structure of Durga is made.And after visarjan, the person who had done Sankalpo,carries the sacred Gat to the Radhaballav jiu temple along with the priests.In the temple further mantra chantings are done and the thus sanctified Gat is brought to the De bari.
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RADHABALLAV JIU TEMPLE IN SERAMPORE |
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| SRI RADHABALLAV JIU |
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| SRI RADHIKA |
Thereafter they sit in a circle in the dalan and receive "Shanti jol(sacred water to bring peace to all) from the purohits out of the sacred gat. After that one by one they go and take Darshan of Sridhar and Lakshmi who have gone back to their room.
Then comes the Shubo bijoya part as mentioned before and Bijoya continues for several days after Dasami.
Well this all about the Bonedi De bari puja.
Every year the bengalis and of course all of us wait for the Mother to arrive. Even the lower and upper middle class save money throughout the year,so they can splurge on clothes not only for themselves ,but for the entire extended family.And for the four or five days during Pooja,very little cooking is done in the homes.The people go out early in the morning to do pandal hopping and return late at night sometimes wandering from pandal to pandal throughout the night eating in counters or shops throughout the day.Food business flourishes these days.
A pandal is a structure erected with mainly bamboo sticks and clothes.To house Ma Durga.
Crores of rupees are collected by the famous puja committees and the money is used to erect magnificient theme pandals and beautiful,creative and artistic statues.and there is healthy competition between the puja committees"
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| SANTOSH MITRA SQUARE |
If I talk about several good themes and idols, the blog will never end.So bidding goodbye .Maybe I can write about the themes of puja pandals and beautiful idols in a separate blog.
Well the immersion ceremony over so much plastic,mud,flowers and other things are polluting the water bodies.
This time in Mumbai and other places,they have tried out eco friendly images and images made from chocolate.Imagine if a chocolate idol can be made,the idols can be immersed in milk and given to the poor and needy and also to public as "Prasad".
De bari photos :Ms.Madhurima (Mampi) De
De Bari information :Mrs.De (Mampi's mother
SHUBHO BIJOYA
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