Honoring the Goddess: A Look at the Symbolic Rituals of Durga Puja

Author: Amitava Basu

(Welcoming Durga Maa) – Durga Puja is one of the major festivals of Hindus and represents the triumphant Goddess Durga who defeated the buffalo demon Mahishasura, a victory for good against evil. It is highly celebrated, of course in the eastern India, particularly West Bengal. The major celebrations take place from Shoshthi, the sixth day, through to Dashami, the tenth day of the last five days. It generally lasts for ten days, beginning with Mahalaya, the festival which welcomes Durga upon earth, and then concluding on the day of Vijayadashami, or Dussehra, when Durga idols are immersed in rivers or lakes, heralding her return to Mount Kailash-the abode of her consort, Lord Shiva. Durga Puja is more than just a religious festival; it is a cultural extravaganza. Lavish and elaborate pandals are constructed all over the towns and cities, enclosing a beautifully sculpted goddess Durga and her children-Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartikeya, and Ganesha.

Pandals often compete with each other in terms of creativity and thematic ideas, so fun in pandal-hopping is similarly derived both by the dwellers and outsiders. From simple traditional designs to modern themes, every pandal has a different tale to share. It is time for many cultural events in this festival, from dance and music performances to plays. To many, it spells new clothes, festive food, and possibly a visit from dear ones and, of course, not to forget rosogolla, sandesh, and other sweets, and khichuri, a rice-and-lentil affair often accompanied by fried vegetables, for savory tastes.

While the religious rituals include offering prayers (pushpanjali), lighting lamps (aarti), and chanting mantras, in such seclusion, the spirit of Durga Puja transcends the religious. It is a celebration of life, creativity, togetherness, for it shows not only a woman in power but also the nurturing lady and the strength of the human.

(Offering of the crown) On Shoshthi or the sixth day of Durga Puja, a very important ritual called Bodhon is performed, referring to the ceremonial awakening of Goddess Durga. The day also marks great importance as it is believed that Durga, after being in her celestial abode, comes down on earth to grace her devotees. During this sacred ritual, Durga Maa is adorned and symbolically empowered with her divine weapons, which she would then deploy to defeat demon Mahishasura.

According to the mythology, every weapon that Goddess Durga receives carries special significance, depicting the attributes needed to defeat the evil forces. She received all of these weapons from the gods. All of the gods represent collective powers that they were entrusting to her for the final battle against the evil forces.

1. Trishul: Given to Lord Shiva, this trident represents the qualities of courage, disciple, and the capacity to destroy evil. It implies three characteristics of the universe: Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Durga is also the power to balance and transcend the above three.

2. Sudarshan Chakra: Provided by Vishnu, the Sudarshan Chakra symbolizes dharma and relentless march towards a righteous goal. It means Durga possesses the ability to uphold dharma and destroy evil through the ages.

3. Bow and Arrow: The bow and arrow were gifted by Lord Vayu, who is the Wind God, and Lord Surya, the Sun God, symbolizing potential and kinetic energy. This is an image of balance between force and control, the capability to start or even to abort war if needed.

4. Sword: The sword sharpened by Lord Ganesh or Yama represents knowledge, wisdom, and the inevitable destruction of ignorance. With this weapon, Durga kills the darkness of false lies and ego.

5. Thunderbolt: The thunderbolt that Lord Indra supplied symbolizes determination or an unshakeable will. It is said to destroy ignorance and evil instantly as well, like a thunderbolt that strikes without batting an eyelid.

6. Trishul: Trishul, sometimes equated with Agni, the fire god, stands for the fierce power and concentrated energy Durga musters to ultimately destroy all evils which oppose the cause of righteousness.

(Welcoming Durga Maa with Dhak) – The dhaak-a large, traditional drum-conceals glory within the vibrant celebration of Durga Puja. Not just an auditory experience but something to be felt, it is about the spirit of the festival-a state of energy, devotion, and transcendence of divinity. With the first twang of the dhaak, Goddess Durga comes-along with it, along with anticipation and delight. 

The dhaak played on all the major rituals on the Durga Puja days lends it an importance that renders it synonymous, and the beating of the dhaak is basically one with the Durga Puja festival itself. Often it is the sound that a devotee first hears as he reaches a pandal-a temporary structure put up to worship Durga’s idol-at once setting the mood for the festivity. The beats of dhaak are formed into a core element of the Bodhon ritual on Shashthi, at which Durga is formally welcomed to Earth and whose resonance reverberates till the day her idol is taken to immersion on Vijayadashami. 

(Sashti Puja) – Shashthi Puja is performed on the sixth day of Durga Puja. It is the first of the two main celebration days and coincidentally, it is also the day on which Durga, as per legend, arrives on earth. The most important rite of the day is Bodhon, or the awakening ritual of Durga. This rite involves a symbolic invocation of the goddess and thereby establishing her presence in the idol. While the priest invokes all such sacred rituals by reciting mantras and with offerings of flowers, fruits, and sweets, devotees pray in her presence.

Shashthi is also the day when the goddess is bedecked with weapons gifted by several gods to vanquish the demon Mahishasura. This marks the beginning of days ahead of worship, devotion, and celebration-the mark of the formal commencement of the Durga Puja Celebrations.

(The Saptami Puja) – This time, Saptami Puja marks the seventh day of Durga Puja; and on this day, all religious as well as puja ceremonies accelerate. It begins with Pran Pratishtha, a ritual wherein prana-the life force of the goddess-is given. The rituals are performed at dawn when a mirror is placed before a banana tree known as Kola Bou that represents Durga’s energy. 

Kola Bou is bathed in a near water body and dressed in a sari, thus portraying the goddess. It is then that the goddess’s manifest being begins in the pandals; from this day, the devotees begin their full-scale worship, offering flowers, fruits, and sweets to the deity. 

(The Ashtami and Nabami Puja) – Ashtami is also observed to be the most auspicious day of Durga puja. Goddess Durga is invoked today in the form of Mahishasuramardini, the destroyer of the buffalo demon Mahishasura to signify victory of force over evil. The day start with ceremonial offering known as Pushpanjali and then there is Kumari Puja in which young virgin girls are worshipped as the goddess. 

The biggest ritual is performed on the 8th and 9th lunar day called Sandhi Puja which is performed in the twilight between Ashtami and Navami. This puja is performed exactly at the time when Durga turns into her devastating form, known as the Chamunda to kill Mahishasura. To enshrine Sandhi Puja 108 lamps, flowers and sacrifices are offered adding more spiritualism to the day. 

Nabami – The ritual of Navami gives emphasis to the last day of the battle of Durga over Mahishasura. The particular day is used to perform prayers and other related ceremonies which are meant to call for blessings from Durga for prosperity, security and free from all forms of evils. People visit the pandals for prayers, Maha Aarti and the bhog which they take, serving as food to the Lord. 

Navami traditions focus on the final tenth day of the war between Durga and Mahishasura and the rituals ‘symbolize the victory.’ 

(The iconic Dhunuchi dance) – Dhunuchi Dance is another sort of religious move that is carried out when worshipping Durga Mata during the Durga Puja festival and especially on Ashtami and Navami nights. They use dhunuchi, which are earthen pots containing burning coconut husk, camphor and incense, and so produce fragrant smoke. This dance is known as Joradhwani Dance or Ardhana are performed in front of Goddess Durga offering flowers along with dhaak (drum).

(The Sindur Khela after Ma’s boron) – Sindoor Khela is a very colourful and an emotionally charged ceremony, carried out on Vijayadashami, which is ninth day of Durga Puja when the idol of Goddess Durga is fitted for immersion. Married women practise this by placing sindoor on the forehead of the deity first and then place it on each other’s forehead. This act is a symbol of wishing for happiness in marriage, prosperity and longevity of her husband. 

They call sindoor ornament which is after applying are women with sweets and celebrate with fun and joy making the positive last of the celebration. Sindoor khela signifies the relation between the women and it also depicts that as Goddess Durga is ready to leave to her own world. 

Dashami – Dashami or Vijayadashami is the part of the Durga Puja which is celebrated as the last day and the last day of Durga Puja is when goddess Durga leaves for her home. For us it is celebrated both as a happy day that also smells sorrow since, Durga defeated the demon Mahishasura. The day includes rituals and offerings for the goddess and then Sindoor Khela. This immersion, known as Visarjan, is done with prayers and music, singing and dancing, which are manifestations of feelings of joy at being able to have worshipped the goddess as well as sadness for not being able to worship her anymore. 

Dashami also marks the conclusion of the Puja and people pray for the goddess Durga come back the following year with her blessings and armour.