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Durga Puja, is not only the festival of Bengal, it has assumed national status. The festival is held every year during the month of September end and in October. It brings smiles, joy and mirth among people irrespective of any religious and caste biasness. There is a popular proverb we find in West Bengal that the arrival of Ma Durga marks new hopes and aspirations among the people of the country.
In the month of 'Sharat', the sky remains overcast with clouds. Later on when dew drops used to pour on in this eternity marking the beginning of the festive moment of Bengal. This climate is noticed in our friendly neighbor Bangladesh. Durga Puja brings smiles on the hapless number of people who have been suffering from sorrows or other familial problems. During the days of festive moments, we find smiles remain on our faces to get away from the day to day monotony of our life.
Durga Puja is a festival, which continues four days. Prior to that we observe a festival named 'Mahalaya' marking the beginning of 'Debipakshya'. This means all evils are hooted out from our mental make up thereby inviting the positives to arrive in our society. In the day, All India Radio telecasts the effervescent 'Mahisashura Mardini' directed by the legendary Birendra Krishna Bhadra. The four days of Durga Puja Celebrations every year is marked by widespread enthusiasm and gaiety. The people from the rural areas join in these celebrations in a friendly manner.
In West Bengal, during the Durga Puja Celebrations, there is another special future. Different publications of the city bring out Puja literary numbers to boost the morale of the cultural loving Bengalis. Durga Puja begins with Sasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Nabami and Dashami. Dashami makes us sorrow. The end of the four days of festivities has ended so quickly. Apart from West Bengal, the festivity is also celebrated in Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam and other North Eastern states. Durga Puja is also celebrated in our neighboring Bangladesh because of the deeprooted Bengali culture there. Apart from the Eastern region of the country, Durga Puja is also celebrated in other cities of the country like Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore etc several other popular cities of the country.
On the day of Saptami, 'Kalabau' is brought to every Puja premises. This is kept till Dasami. On the day of Dasami this is immersed along with idols of Goddess Durga. On the day of Ashtami, a special Puja by the name of 'Kumari Puja' is performed by
In Kolkata, the celebrations taking place are of two types. These are
- Traditional household types
- Community Types, i.e. pujas performed inside pandals in different parks or road side pujas.
For more information about other Indian festivals, please browse at .
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