Well to start with I am not a religious person. But I got to say that I love Durga Puja.
So, I would like to put the experience of Durga Puja in as much my own words and with the spiritual aspect as I can. I would like to start chronologically but that doesn't mean I am going to put only the recent experiences. Every day would have a collective experience that I have experienced over the years that I have enjoyed in this festival.
Day 1 :
Sasthi
or the sixth day of the fest when the Festival actually begins(don't ask me why,although my dad said this year that it's the nature of women to take their time in doing their makeup etc ).
The day begins with a Puja (worship). But we start as we want to see the Durga statues with her sons and daughters all lines up inside a beautiful pandal. Well over the years Sasthi has mostly been a quiet day for me. Usually I go late and reach there by the time lunch starts.
Day 2 :
Saptami
All in all a much better day for me than the Sasthi. Well its nearly the same with a much hyped puja for morning till late night, starting of gathering of all the ladies into groups and their combined talk that could lead a serious man nuts :P.
Evenings are the start of the cultural programs. A little boring but fun to watch seeing as the age old tale of Durga vs Mahisasur continues.
Day 3 :
Asthami
The day starts without food, bathing a lot earlier than usual and new clothes. All this for Puspanjali (literal English transformation - Worshiping with flowers). A calm and cool event where we recite some sanskrit mantras (don't ask me which ones please).
The celebrations finally begins with a lot of people. By lot , I mean A LOT. People from all places start coming in to see the idols and of course for all the free FOOD (Bengalis == Food). Fun continues with a grand scale cultural events ranging from dances to songs to enactments to dramas in the evening. A lot of fireworks makes up the night.
Day 4 :
Nabami
The most spiritual day in the Durga Puja, even for me! The day is marked by the most famous event the fire dancce (the actual dance that signifies the Durga Puja). People (men and women alike) use mud containers having burning (rather smoking) coconut coverings with an ingredient called DHUNA, having the sweetest and pure smell in the whole wide world for me.
Day 5 :
Dashami or Bijaya Dashami
The day marks the end of durga puja. The day is marked by events such as Sindur Khela by ladies and immersion. The idols are taken to immerse them in a river or a lake. At night a large feast usually accompanied by chicken and sweets. A night of celebration the is marked by slogans :
Bolo Bolo Durga Mai Ki Jai
Asche Bochor Aabar Hobe (once more next year).....
So, I would like to put the experience of Durga Puja in as much my own words and with the spiritual aspect as I can. I would like to start chronologically but that doesn't mean I am going to put only the recent experiences. Every day would have a collective experience that I have experienced over the years that I have enjoyed in this festival.
Day 1 :
Sasthi
or the sixth day of the fest when the Festival actually begins(don't ask me why,
The day begins with a Puja (worship). But we start as we want to see the Durga statues with her sons and daughters all lines up inside a beautiful pandal. Well over the years Sasthi has mostly been a quiet day for me. Usually I go late and reach there by the time lunch starts.
Day 2 :
Saptami
All in all a much better day for me than the Sasthi. Well its nearly the same with a much hyped puja for morning till late night, starting of gathering of all the ladies into groups and their combined talk that could lead a serious man nuts :P.
Evenings are the start of the cultural programs. A little boring but fun to watch seeing as the age old tale of Durga vs Mahisasur continues.
Day 3 :
Asthami
The day starts without food, bathing a lot earlier than usual and new clothes. All this for Puspanjali (literal English transformation - Worshiping with flowers). A calm and cool event where we recite some sanskrit mantras (don't ask me which ones please).
The celebrations finally begins with a lot of people. By lot , I mean A LOT. People from all places start coming in to see the idols and of course for all the free FOOD (Bengalis == Food). Fun continues with a grand scale cultural events ranging from dances to songs to enactments to dramas in the evening. A lot of fireworks makes up the night.
Day 4 :
Nabami
The most spiritual day in the Durga Puja, even for me! The day is marked by the most famous event the fire dancce (the actual dance that signifies the Durga Puja). People (men and women alike) use mud containers having burning (rather smoking) coconut coverings with an ingredient called DHUNA, having the sweetest and pure smell in the whole wide world for me.
Day 5 :
Dashami or Bijaya Dashami
The day marks the end of durga puja. The day is marked by events such as Sindur Khela by ladies and immersion. The idols are taken to immerse them in a river or a lake. At night a large feast usually accompanied by chicken and sweets. A night of celebration the is marked by slogans :
Bolo Bolo Durga Mai Ki Jai
Asche Bochor Aabar Hobe (once more next year).....
