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DURGEY DURGATI NAASHINI

       When the cool autumn winds begin to blow and the Kaash flowers begin to sway in the wind, that is the time when Durga Puja is approaching. The months of September - October is the time when every bengali wakes up to the call of the Goddess. Wearing new clothes, they assemble at the numerous Durga Pandals allover the world to greet their fellow bengalis.

 

The Begining

                    In the Begining there is Mahalaya. In the wee hours of the morning, people getup to the rhythm of the 'Chandipath' (chanting of the hymns in the Chandi) transmitted from the local radio station, to get ready to welcome the goddess. Puja is performed in the temples. Television (Doordarshan) in India, transmits a programme normally called Mahishasuramardini. The programme, usually transmitted by the Calcutta Doordarshan Kendra, portrays the killing of the demon Mahisha by the Goddess. The visual depiction is form of a ballet. Narration accompanies the ballet. The Naration is in verse punctuated often by Birendra Krishna Bhadra's chanting from the Devi Puran.The vibrant voice of the late Birendra Krishna Bhadra and his team betokens the beginning of the 'Durga Puja'. Along with the chanting there are devotional songs. HMV has brought out the Chandipath in the form of cassettes and CDs.


The Story

                    The Durga Mahatman, Durga Puran or the Chandi as the book is known narrates the story of the Goddess. It tells how the Goddess killed numerous demons including the dreaded buffalo demon, Mahishasura.
 

                   Many many days ago in the city of Kola there was a king called Surath who was ousted from his land by his own ministers whom he trusted a lot. He fled into the jungles, lost his way and found himself in front of a beautiful hermitage. He stepped inside. That was the ashram of the rishi Medha. The sage welcomed the king, and Surath started staying there. The atmosphere was serene. Birds used to sing, animals used to prance around and everyone was very happy.Surath was not at peace. He used to think about Kola all the time. One day there arrived a stranger in the ashram.His name was Samadhi. His wife and children had grabbed all his land and wealth and had driven him out of the house.Samadhi started staying in Medha Rishi's ashram but his thoughts were still with his wife children.
                    Both Surath and Samadhi then approached the rishi Medha oneday. hey wanted to know, how they could rid their lives of the worries they had.
                    Medha started talking to them. He said
                  Maya is the creator of attachment. Even though you are intelligent men you are behavng foolishly because of the Maya created by the great Goddess Mahamaya. Not only are the mortal beings victims of Mahamaya's Maya, even the Devas are not spared. She is the Eternal One. To save the world from the cluthches from the forces of th evil ones, she takes various avtaars.
                    After the MahaPralaya, creation was destroyed. Everything was under water. On that water, Shree Vishnu was resting on the coils of the AnataShesh. The rest was a YogaNidra created by the YogaMaya. From the navel of Vishnu, out came a lotus flower, on which was seated Brahma. From the dirt of Vishnu's ears, suddenly two demons, Madhu and Kaitava took birth. Seeing Brahma in front of them, they rushed to kill him. Brahma then started praying to Yogamaya. Pleased with Brahma's prayers, Yogamaya released her spell from Vishnu who then woke up. Vishnu attacked the two asuras empty handed. A fierce battle started. Under the spell of Mayamaya's Maya, the asuras told Vishnu to ask for a boon which they would grant. Vishnu said then let your edath be from my hands. The Asuras looked around and said, So be it, but you will have to kill us in a place where there is no water. Vishnu then caught the asuras by the locks of their hair and using his Sudarshana Chakra, beheaded them.
                    Once , the buffalo demon began praying to Brahma. Brahma gave him a boon, that he would die only in the hands of a woman. Believing that he had become invincible, Mahisha along with his asuras attacked the devas. A fierce battle took place between the Devas and the Asuras. The Devas lost and the Asuras then captured the heavens. The Devas fled to the Earth. There along with Brahma they started praying to Mahamaya. Thinking of their plight, the Devas became angry. There faces started glowing. The glow took the form of a bright light. That light took the shape of a many handed woman. The devas offered the Devi a weapon each. They gave her wonderful dresses and Himalaya offered her a Lion. Astride the lion, the devi began to roar. To see what had happened, Mahishasura came out of his palace. The big worriers in Mahisha's army,(Chikshur, Chamar, Mahahanu,Biralaksha, Vakshal) , attacked the Goddess. The Goddess killed them all. Then Mahisha attacked the Goddess. Assuming the shape of a wild buffalo and using his hooves, tail and mouth, the asura started hurting the devas who were there to assist the Devi. The Devi then caught Mahisha in a noose. Mahisha then assumed the shape of a lion. The Devi chopped the Lion's head. Mahisha then assumed a man's form. On killing that, the asura assumed the form of a elephant. The Devi chopped off the elephant's trunk. Mahisha again assumed te form of a buffalo. The Devi picked up a bowl of nectar, and slowly sipping  that she looked at Mahisha and said : (Till I drink this tumbler of honey, shout as much as you want) Suddenly, the Devi jumped on Mahisha's back. With one foot she pressed down his throat and she pushed her (trident)n§m into Mahisha. Mahisha assuming his demon form emerged from the buffalo. Using her sword, the devi then chopped off Mahish's head. Mahisha died.
                    The Devas began praying to the goddess. They said
    Maa, you have created this universe. You are the strength of all. Devatas, Rishis, Yakhas, Kinnaras all pray to you. Even Brahma, Vishnu and Mheshwar donot know you fully. For the Dharmik you are Lakshmi, for the adharmis you are Alakshmi. You are Buddhi, you are Lajja, you are shraddha. You were there lways and will be there forever. You are the adhar for all, You are Prakriti. You are Swaha. You are Swadha. You save the earth by killing the numerous asuras.
                    After Mahishasura, two more demon brothers,  Shumbha and Nishumbha started troubling the asuras. They forcibly snatched off the heaven from the Devas and pushed tem away. The devas then started praying to Mahamaya. At that moment, Parvati was going to have a bath in the river. She asked the Devas whom they were praying to. On listening to their tale of woe, from Parvati's body emerged a female form, Devi Kaushiki. Upon the emergence of Kaushiki, Parvati's body turned black and she then became known as Kalika. Kaushiki was spotted by Chanda and Munda, Shumbha Nishumba's two assistants. They reported to their masters, that they had seen a beautiful woman.Shumbha then sent a messanger to Kaushiki. The messanger, Sugriva, went to Kaushiki and said My masters Shumbha andNishumbha are the rulers of the heavens. They have sent me to you. They want you to marry either Sumbha or Nishumbha, the choice is yours. The Devi said I am foolish woman. I have made a very stupid promise that I will marry only that person who can defeat me in warfare. Tell your masters, whoever can defeat me in battle can win me. On hearing this, Shumbha sent Dhumralochana to capture the devi. Initially the asura tried to persuade the devi to accompany him, but when she refused, he rushed to capture her. The Devi uttered a manta and the asura was reduced to ashes.  On hearing this, Shumbha sent Chanda and Munda to capture the Devi. On seeing Chanda nad Munda coming, the Devi wriggled her eyebrows. From the eyebrows emerged a ferocious looking Devi with a sword and a noose in her hands. She was wearing a tiger skin around her body. Her big eyes were red and from her tongue salive was flowing. She was Kali. Kali jumped among the asuras and started killing them. She killed Chanda and Munda and dragged their bodies to Kaushiki. She said


Killing Chanda and Munda, I bring you their heads
You will have to kill Shumbha and Nishumba

The Devi then said

You have gifted me the heads of Chanda and Munda
From this day henceforth, you will be known as Chamunda

Thus Kali became known as Chamunda.

The asuras seeing the death of Chanda and Munda attacked the goddesses kaushiki and Kali from all sides. At that moment, from the bodies of the various devas, women forces began emerging. These devis started figting along the Kaushiki. Kali then approached Shiva. She said, "You go to Shumbha Nishumbha as my messanger. Tell them to surrender." As Kali had told Shiva to go as her messanger, she became known as Shivaduti. Hearing Shiva's message, the asuras became ferocious. Among the asuras there was one named Raktabija. If a drop of his blood, spilt on the ground another asura would take birth from that. Unknowingly, the devis attacked Raktabeeja and from his flowing blood numerous Raktabeejas took birth. Seeing that Kali swallowed up Raktabeeja and the asuras born from the blood.
                    Upon Raktabeeja's death, Nishumbha attacked. The devi then struck Nishumbha with a weapon called Khura, and Nishumbha became unconsious. Seeing Nishumbha fall, Shumha attacked. Shumbha also fell unconsious. Upon regaining consciousness, Nishumbha attcked the devi but was killed. Kaushiki and Kali then killed off the complete asura army. Shumbha was left alone. He regained conscious and asked the devi if it was fair play that so many devis should attack one asura. The Devi smiled, and the various shaktis emerged into her. Kaushiki was left alone. She then killed Shumbha.
                    The devas then started singing the devi's praises.
Rishi Medha then finished narrating Devi's story. Surath and Samadhi then went away for tapasya and started parying to the goddess. The Goddess granted them both peace of mind.

According to one story, Devi Durga (Goddess Durga) was actually worshipped by Rama, before he set out to
defeat the demon king Ravana, the ruler of Lanka. Wanting to defeat Ravana, Rama invoked Durga in the months of autumn though normally Durga Puja was done in spring. As the invocation was untimely, the Puja is called Akalbodhana. It is said that Rama wanted to worship Durga with 108 lotus flowers, but managed to get just 107. He then remebered that used to call him Padmalochana (lotus eyed) and he became ready to pluck out one of his eyes and offer it to the goddess in lieu of the missing lotus. It is then that Durga appeared in front of him and told him that he would defeat Ravana.

The Puja

Durga Puja is performed on the sixth day (sashti), the seventh day (saptami), the eighth day (ashtami) and the ninth day (navami). The tenth day or (Vijaya Dashami) marks the Devi's return to Kailasha.

Shasti (the Sixth day)

Goddess 'Durga' represents the collective power on the side of goodness. 'Bodhana' is the ritual that invokes this power and prays that the essence that permeates the universe as a potency might now breathe itself into the concrete clay image and accept our worship. The idols of the Devi, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, Kartikeya, Asura, Lion and others (if any) are brought to the platform where they would be installed and worshipped. A puja, called the Bodhana is performed amidst the Dhakis. The morning begins with a ritual worship, or 'Anjali', after which people gather round the community 'Puja Pandal' to greet others, gossip or just laze in the sun.

 

Saptami (the Seventh day)

The seventh day of the Pujas, 'Saptami' begins with the usual morning prayers to the Goddess. Ganesha wanted to get married but Durga loved her youngest son so much that she wanted him with her always. So she got Ganesha married to a plantain tree. The ceremonial plantain tree or 'Kola Bou' is bathed and draped in a gold-sandalwood coloured saree with deep red hemlines. After this ritual is over, the 'Kola Bou' is placed at her rightful place, beside 'Ganesh'. General public celebrations pick up momentum on this day, as crowds throng the streets, visiting the various community 'Pandals' or locally organised 'Pujas' to wonder at the variations in the idols, 'Pandal' design and decorations, and lighting arrangements.

Ashtami (the Eighth day)

'Ashtami' or 'Mahashtami' as it is sometimes called, is the eighth and most important day of 'Durga Puja'. Celebrations hit a zenith on this day, when the Goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo-demon Mahish is commemorated. Traditionally, a buffalo is sacrificed on this day, to symbolise Durga's victory over the buffalo-demon, thus signifying the defeat of all evil on Earth. Nowdays a rice gourd is chopped, signifying the buffalo. The day starts with the most significant of the morning prayers on each day of the 'Pujas', the special 'Anjali' on the morning of 'Mahashtami'. People throng to offer 'Pushpanjali'. Dressed in the best of the clothes, they come to the pandals. They have been fasting since the day break. With flowers and 'Bel' leaves they offer their prayers to Durga amidst the chanting of 'Chandi'. This being the most important day of the 'Pujas', the city streets are most-crowded as almost everyone is out enjoying themselves, visiting various 'Pujas', friends and relatives. Few people stay indoors on this day and the city roads stay crowded even into the early hours of the next day. 'Sandhi Puja' is performed at the juncture of the eighth and the ninth day. Sheetal Bhog is offered which normally comprises of 'Suji' and 'Luchi'.

 

Navami (the Ninth day)

'Navami' is marked by closing rituals. On all the days of the 'Puja', ritual worship is marked by the traditional drumming of the 'dhaki', earthenware lamplights and clouds of incense. Aarati dances are performed where people dance with earthenware pots of incense('dhuno') in their hands.People try to prolong their festivities before the Goddess bids farewell the following day.

Dashami (the Tenth day)

'Dashami' or 'Bijoya-Dashami' as it is sometimes known, is the final day of 'Durga Puja' (according to mythology, the Goddess Durga prepares for her return journey to her husband's abode). The highlight of this day's events is 'Sindoor-khela' . The forehead and face of the idol of 'Durga' is smeared with vermillion by married women of the locality who then smear each other's faces with the vermillion. This is done amidst the constant beating of drums and blowing of conch-shells. The ladies then perform 'Boron' where they wipe the idols eyes, feed them sweetend curds, give them paan and tearfully bid farewell. The ritual signifies the mother wishing her daughter who had come to her house, farewell. This done, people seek the final blessings of the Goddess before the idols are removed from the 'Pandal'. As people say farewell, with a heavy heart, to the Goddess Durga and wish her back the next year, the idols are put onto the trucks that carry them to the river for immersion. The immersion of the idols marks the journey of the Goddess back to her in-laws, and the end of 'Durga Puja', probably the biggest and most popular of all festivals among the Bengali community.

 

The Puja Bhog

Amongst the festivities, one of the events is the Puja bhog. The 'Khichuri' bhog is something which people wait for anxiously. Some of my non-bengali friends in my workplace, actually talk about the 'Khichri'(not 'Khichuri' and 'Tomato Chutni' which is offered during the bhog.

  The concept of Bhog seems to be there everywhere. I am yet to go and see a Puja in West Bengal and witness a Puja ceremony there, but in Singapore and in the US, bhog is available.

My experiences with the 'International' scene


        General Puja seems to be the same everywhere. In Singapore in 1997, I took a day off from my work in Citibank and went to the Puja at Balliester Road for Ashtami Anjali. It was very much like what we had witnessed in Delhi. I also visisted a small Puja there in Singapore at the RamaKrishna Mission,where the puja is done on the 'Ghat' and not in front of an idol.


   This year, 1999, I was in San Francisco and here I did manage to trace out Prabasi, the Bay Area Bengali Club. They celebrated Durga Puja here.

   Durga Puja in the US is a different thing altogether. It is an occasion for the Bengalis to gather and meet. The Puja is not held according to the dates in India, but done on the weekends. The reason which I can think of for that is, that the Dusheraa season is a holiday in India, but not in the US. The only time the people can actually be free and can attend functions, is on the weekends.
Durga Puja in Singapore, though is held according to the 'tithi's.