Dear All!
Salutations!
The air is cooling here in the Bengal province of India. Like newly bloomed flowers, the air is subtly laden with the smell of the festive season here. The roads are already flocking with people out with their families to do their shopping and stocking their homes with goodies. Traffic police have literally trebled in each of the prime areas of the city and are accompanied by volunteers across schools who assign themselves to social service by assisting the public to safely negotiate the far too busy roads. The shops are all heavily laden with merchandise and new trends to woo their customers. The sweet shops are thinking of new delicacies everyday and the newspapers are buzzing with the best deals of the season and the houses of the 'best of the best' of the season - be it clothes, food, shoes, home decor or even jewellery! Give it a week more, there would be a chill in the air, atmosphere would be ripe with the color of red, smell of sweets and incense and sound of beating drums and pulsating music from every nook and corner of the city.... the promise of a season that binds people and propagates sheer joy of celebration of faith and life!
The air is cooling here in the Bengal province of India. Like newly bloomed flowers, the air is subtly laden with the smell of the festive season here. The roads are already flocking with people out with their families to do their shopping and stocking their homes with goodies. Traffic police have literally trebled in each of the prime areas of the city and are accompanied by volunteers across schools who assign themselves to social service by assisting the public to safely negotiate the far too busy roads. The shops are all heavily laden with merchandise and new trends to woo their customers. The sweet shops are thinking of new delicacies everyday and the newspapers are buzzing with the best deals of the season and the houses of the 'best of the best' of the season - be it clothes, food, shoes, home decor or even jewellery! Give it a week more, there would be a chill in the air, atmosphere would be ripe with the color of red, smell of sweets and incense and sound of beating drums and pulsating music from every nook and corner of the city.... the promise of a season that binds people and propagates sheer joy of celebration of faith and life!
Yes, its the Durga Puja season in Kolkata, India. The festive season of Bengal. Durga Puja, the festival of Bengalis is the worship of 'Shakti' or the divine power. Most of the religious celebrations in the world have legends surrounding them.The fables are generally the fight between the evil and the good, the dark forces eventually succumbing to the divine.Worship of Goddess Durga is based on myths where Durga symbolizes the divine power.
ACCORDING TO THE INDIAN MYTHOLOGY: Mahishasura, the king of Asuras, through years of austerities, was once granted a boon by Lord Bramha, that no man or deity would be able to kill him. The immense power filled in him the urge to rule over the world. He started to terrorize heaven and the inhabitants. Chaos and anarchy reigned. The Gods scared and unable to combat him, requested Lord Shiva, Lord Bramha and Lord Vishnu (combinely known as the Trinity) to stop Mahishasura's tyranny. 
In answer, the three Gods combined their divine energy and summoned up a feminine form so brilliantly radiant that it illuminated the heavens. From the glow emerged Devi Durga, a beautiful dark skinned woman with ten arms riding a lion. Despite her grace she bore a menacing expression, for Durga was born to kill. She was sent forth against Mahishasura armed by symbols of divine power; Lord Vishnu's discus; Lord Shiva's trident; Lord Varuna's conchshell; Lord Agni's flaming dart; Lord Vayu's bow; Lord Surya's quiver and arrow; Lord Yama's iron rod; Lord Indra's thunderbolt; Lord Kubera's club and a garland of snakes from Shesha and a lion as a charger from Himalayas. Such might!
In answer, the three Gods combined their divine energy and summoned up a feminine form so brilliantly radiant that it illuminated the heavens. From the glow emerged Devi Durga, a beautiful dark skinned woman with ten arms riding a lion. Despite her grace she bore a menacing expression, for Durga was born to kill. She was sent forth against Mahishasura armed by symbols of divine power; Lord Vishnu's discus; Lord Shiva's trident; Lord Varuna's conchshell; Lord Agni's flaming dart; Lord Vayu's bow; Lord Surya's quiver and arrow; Lord Yama's iron rod; Lord Indra's thunderbolt; Lord Kubera's club and a garland of snakes from Shesha and a lion as a charger from Himalayas. Such might!
Durga Puja is the celebration of this victory (killing of Mahishasura). The interesting part of Durga Puja is that, instead of placing Durga on a high alter and worshipping her from a distance, Indians embrace her in their hearts and make her an inseparable member of the family. Goddess Durga is welcomed to the earth as our daughter who annually visits her parents' home. Durga stays for four days- last four days of the lunar cycle. She is accompanied by two other goddesses - Laxmi and Saraswati and her children Ganesh and Kartik. She sets back for her husband's (shiva) abode on Vijaya Dashami, also known as Dussehra in some parts of the country.
Though the literature and mythology of the entire festival is a wonder of sorts in itself, more fascinating is the fervour in which the Indians celebrate the festival. Business literally stops in this corner of the world on these 4 days. It seems as if life has resumed an objective - to prepare, provide and enjoy the season as if tomorrow never comes. Art flourishes to decorate the city
with lights, artifacts, craftsmanship and paintings. Music assumes a new stage of deliverance as each professional strives to perform their stupendous best as their oen personal offering to the Goddess. Its a brilliant study of human nature to just sit and wtach the devotees of Durga embark on the journey of this celebration. Its really no wonder that the Goddess chooses to bless this human race with even more abundance and faith, year on year - its as if she is telling them to keep on the faith, and I will come every year to replenish the stock exhausted last year!
with lights, artifacts, craftsmanship and paintings. Music assumes a new stage of deliverance as each professional strives to perform their stupendous best as their oen personal offering to the Goddess. Its a brilliant study of human nature to just sit and wtach the devotees of Durga embark on the journey of this celebration. Its really no wonder that the Goddess chooses to bless this human race with even more abundance and faith, year on year - its as if she is telling them to keep on the faith, and I will come every year to replenish the stock exhausted last year!I truly feel its a blessing to be ordained with such faith। It knows no bounds, it takes never a beating when the tides are low. Time and again, it rejuvenates itself by simply celebrating the Almighty. Time and again, replenishes itself by giving yourself away. For in love and faith, the rule is - तुम एक दो, वो दस लाख देगा!
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