The Durga Pujah is the greatest festival of the Hindus of Bengal. It takes place twice a year; once in the Bengali month of Chaitra, and again in the month of Aswin or Kartick. The former is called the Basanti Pujah, or the Pujah held in Spring, and the latter is called the Saradiya Pujah, or the Pujah held in Autumn. The Basanti Pujah celebrates the original worship of the goddess by which King Suratha was restored to his lost throne in the Satya Juga or the Golden Age. The other Pujah was first performed untimely by Sri Ramchandra in the next age to get the help of the goddess in killing Ravana. Though it was untimely and, hence, irregular, it has now so completely ousted the original Pujah, that when we speak of Durga Pujah or even simple Pujah, we mean this autumnal worship. While it means the longest holidays in the year, the other is not honoured even with a sin day's holiday.
Durga is the symbol of Sakti or Power. She appeared to kill the demon Mahisasura who had become so powerful as almost to threaten the very creation. She is represented as riding a lion, fight ing with the demon with ten different weapons in her ten hands. One of her feet is on the back of the lion and the other is on the shoulder of the enemy, who is half emerging out of a buffalo, just slain. On her left are Saraswati, the goddess of learning, and Kartick, the god of war, while on the right are Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune and Kartick
Ganesh, the clephant-headed god of wisdom and success. On the evening of the 6th day of the moon in Aswin or is performed the Bodhana ceremony, fe., the ceremony of rousing the goddes from her sleep. The real Pujah, however, begins the next day, called the Saptami, and continues for three days. Besides offer ings of flowers, fruits, rice, etc., he-goats and even buffaloes are sacri ficed on these days. The 10th day of the moon is called the Bijoya Dashami because on the day everybody takes leave of the goddess, after which the image, or rather the images, are immersed in water with great festivities. This immersion ceremony is usually performed in some river close by where all the images near about are brought together in separate processions, and thousands of people assemble to see the sight. After immersion Santijal, or the water of peace, are sprinkled upon everybody present and the people embrace one another as a token of friendliness. All enmity and ill feeling are for gotten even the bitterest enemies close in embrace, and there reigns, at least for the time being, a feeling of peace and fellowship in every heart.
As already stated, the Durga Pujah is the most important festival in Bengal. It is hailed with joy and rejoicing. The longest holidays of the year enable everybody. living away from his relatives to return to them, while many use the vacation in trips to places of interest or health resorts. Indeed, so great is the rush of passagers that, though railway and steamer companies run a number of specials, every train and every steamer is packed almost to suffocation.
It is customary for every Hindu, however poor, to wear new clothes and to make presents to his near and dear ones at this time. Trades men therefore, have a very busy time of it on the occasion, their shops being always crowded with purchasers. The faces of children shine with joy in new garments, while those of elderly people look cheerful in the company of their children and other relatives who usually live way from them. In short, the Pujah is a festival that may well be said to bring universal joy and rejoicing in Bengal.
