Durga Pujo, 2016

‘Durga Puja’ is Bengal’s own version of what can perhaps be called the Great Autumnal Festival celebrated all over the Indian Subcontinent in various ways and under various names such as Navaratri, Dussehra, Dasain, Bommai Golu or Bathukamma. While in the states of Northern India, it is primarily a commemoration of Sri Ramachandra’s epic victory over Ravana, other parts of South Asia use this occasion to celebrate Divinity in its female form. Another popular name for the ceremony in Bengal is ‘Akalbodhan’ which literally means ‘awakening at an improper hour’—an allusion to the fact that the festivities are held during the ‘night’ of the celestials, i.e. the apparent southward movement of the Sun between the solstices. Hence the Goddess must be woken up from her sleep for her to accept our offerings.

The origins of the festival are obscure. Some scholars believe that it started out as an agricultural fertility ritual, as suggested by the veneration of the Navapatrika or Kola-bou, a collection of nine vegetable components, alongside an earthen image of the Goddess Durga who is identified with Nature herself. Others have theorized that the lion-riding buffalo-slaying deity was propitiated to ensure success in hunting, and still others ascribe the genesis of both the ‘Sharodiya’ (fall) and ‘Basonti’ (spring) variants of the Puja to ancient sacrifices performed in order to prevent outbreaks of diseases that are common in the two transitional seasons. The worship of the ten-armed weapon-wielding goddess, who can put any superheroine from the Marvel multiverse to shame, has been a particularly important observance for kings (and wannabes) who would seek her blessings for victory on the battlefield.

However, we Bengalis add our unique twist to it! Durga is viewed as the daughter of the family, who went to her husband, Lord Siva’s abode—the mighty Himalayas after marriage. During the pujo, she is visiting her parents in the plains of Bengal, two sons and two daughters in tow. Thus, it is a celebration of family reunion. Indeed, the non-resident Bengali tries the mightiest to wrangle a vacation during the week of the Pujo. Failing that, a Bengali will get together with others and organize one for everyone to participate in this celebration of life and love.