Short Essay on Durga Puja Festival

On Jul 6, 2019

Durga Puja – Short Essay I

Durga Puja is a festival to worship of the Goddess Durga. Puja means to worship, and Durga means the Goddess Durga. Though it is more popular in the Eastern and North-Eastern Indian States of West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, etc.; in today’s world, it is celebrated across most major cities of India. It is celebrated every year in September or October depending on the dates of the Indian Calendar.

Durga Puja celebrations basically consist of the worship rituals and prayers for the Goddess Durga.

Here is how Durga Puja gets celebrated in India.

During the festive period people enjoy a lot by dancing singing holy songs, and in between these activities, people socialize a lot like a lot of people gather for Durga Puja throughout the country.
The most famous Durga Puja celebration in the world is of Kolkata because in the city more than 45000 Durga Puja Pandals get decorated on the auspicious occasion and people from around the globe, travel to this beautiful city to watch and celebrate Durga Puja.
In other parts of the country, people show a great love towards Goddess Durga, and people give their gifts to goddess Durga and expect their wishes to get fulfilled in return.

Though that is the religious aspect, there is also a Social aspect to it. It is a ten-day festival, in which a large idol of Goddess Durga is installed in prominent public places. The idol is decorated beautifully with flowers, jewelry, and many other colorful decorations. It is a sight to behold. People come together with their families, share sweets, share festival greetings and participate in the prayers and worship of Goddess Durga. On the tenth day, called Dussehra, the idol is immersed in Water, and the festival is declared closed, until next year.

Goddess Durga signifies the Power of the Feminine Energy in Indian Culture. So Durga Puja is a Symbol of Gender Equality and a celebration of the importance of the Feminine Energy in our lives. Goddess Durga was the slayer of the Demon Mahishasura, so her worship also signifies the Importance of choosing the Good Path in life.

Durga Puja festival is significant on multiple levels. On one level, it is merely a big Social Event for family get-together. On another level, it is a religious event for the ritual worship of Goddess Durga. And on the Spiritual level, it signifies the Value of Choosing the Good Path in life.

Durga Puja – Short Essay II

Durga Puja is one of significant Hindu festivals in India. Literally it means the Worship [Puja] of the Goddess called Durga. This celebration happens generally in the months of September – October every year. It is celebrated by all Hindus, and even other religions participate in the celebrations. But it is more popular in the Eastern Indian States of West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam and Tripura.

Significance of Goddess Durga

The Goddess Durga has a very prominent role and significance in the Indian subcontinent, from a mythological, religious, spiritual and moral points of view. One significant difference in the Hindu religion is that goddesses are considered equally important as the gods and hence gives deep roots to the gender equality dimension in the Indian psyche. Goddesses are considered a manifestation of the feminine energy of the Existence. A good balance between the masculine and feminine energies is considered important for harmonious existence. And hence festivals like Durga Puja have been given prominent position in the Indian social landscape. The Goddess Durga is the most prominent goddess in Hindu religion and mythology. She is depicted as a Goddess of Power [Shakti] and is portrayed as a Warrior Goddess, who is the destroyer of evil. She is also depicted as a slayer of the demon Mahishasura. She is also shown riding a lion or a tiger, another power symbol. She is also considered the Protector Goddess for the followers of good and ethical behaviour. In terms of mythology and spirituality, Goddess Durga is a symbol of the path of Dharma [Good behaviour], the choice of good over evil, right over wrong.

Moral reminder

In that sense, Goddess Durga represents two basic moral codes of the Indian Social structure: gender equality and the power of good behaviour. Hence the annual worship of Durga Puja, is a means of a constant reminder to the entire population of these two ethical values.

Celebration

The festival of Durga Puja is a celebration spread over ten days. Big sized idols of Goddess Durga are worshipped for nine days. On the tenth day of Vijayadashami or Dussehra the idol is immersed in water. Durga puja is a major private and public celebration.

Durga Puja is a unique celebration of the feminine God-Energy from the Indian mythology.