Durga puja is regarded as the most important
festival of West Bengal. The city of Kolkata dresses up in a new look
for the five days of the festival. The celebration lasts for five days
starting from Maha Shashti (the sixth day) and ends with Bijoya dashami
(the tenth day). The first day of the celebration starts with Bodhon on
Maha-Shashti, which is like welcoming Goddess Durga and ends with
immersing the idols in the nearby rivers, lakes and seas on the evening
of Dashami. However, it is considered to immerse the idols in the sacred
waters of the River Ganges. According to mythology Goddess Durga
descends to the Earth on Shashthi and returns to her abode on Dashmi.
The clear blue sky, the cool pleasant air, the beautiful fragrance of
Shiuli (a type of flower of this season), the lush green fields and
chanting of mantras and shlokas of Goddess Shakti, all sum up together
to create the perfect ambience for the celebration of Durga Puja, the
greatest festival of the Bengalis. The preparations for the festival are
done way in advance as beautiful pandals are build in different areas of
the city these are mainly community pujas, which are mainly financed by
the local people or sponsorship from big corporate houses. Even the idol
making also starts way in advance. Clay idols of Bengal are famous
worldwide for the traditional way in which they are made. The people of
Bengal start preparing for the festival from Mahalaya (the starting of
the festive season) they decorate homes, buy gifts for fiends and
relatives and new clothes for themselves and relatives for the festival.
The shopping plaza and markets are totally packed up from one month
before the festival.
Durga puja festival is regarded as one of the biggest social event of
India. Today it is celebrated not only as a religious festival but it
has a cultural and social significance as everybody takes part in its
celebration. People from all religious background participate in it. It
is celebrated as a secular festival. Cultural programmes are organized
in different parts of the city. During this festive time Kolkata
attracts tourists not only from India but also from different regions of
the world. There is feast and music everywhere in the city. Durga puja
is that time of the year when everybody enjoys irrespective of their
social status. During this time all the colleges, schools, offices and
even government organizations are closed for the ceremony. Everybody is
in a festive mood. This year Duga puja will be celebrated on the
following dates:
Durga Puja 2010 Calendar:
