DHAKA, Oct 20, 2023 (BSS) - Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the

Bangalee Hindu community, began with Kalparambho, Bodhon (incarnation),
Amantran (invocation), Adhibash of Goddess Durga at temples and makeshift
mandaps across the country on Maha Shasthi today amid due religious fervor
and gaiety.

The annual five-day Sharadiyo Durgotsab commenced with Kalparambho in the
morning followed by Adhibash, Amantran (invitation) and Bodhon (incarnation)
in the late afternoon and evening as Maha Shasthi Tithi starts on 12:31 am.

Dhakeshwari National Temple priest Barun Chakrabarty said the festival began
with Kalparambho at 8am at the temple and later in the late afternoon
Adhibash, Amantran and Bodhon were held at the base of the Bel tree on the
temple premises awakening Goddess Durga.  

Kalparmbha involves the installation a pot or Kalash filled with water,
invoking Goddess Durga on the base of a Bel plant (Bilva Tree) and taking a
Sankalp (determination) to perform the Durga Puja by following all necessary
rituals and practices in proper manner for the next four days.

According to Hindu religious texts, the ideal time of worshipping the goddess
is spring. Autumn is considered the season where the 'devatas' or Hindu
deities go into rest mode. If deities have to be invoked at this time they
must be awakened from their sleep.

This process is known as 'Bodhon' which is performed in the evening likewise
Kalparambha.

During this ritual, a water-filled kalash (pot) is kept at the base of the
Bel tree. The face of the deity is unveiled. Prayers are offered to the
goddess.

This is followed by the Amantran (invitation) and the Adhivas rituals,
through which the deity is invited and given a grand welcome.

At this stage, married women apply sindoor (vermilion) on their foreheads,
put on new sarees and welcome the goddess through a glass of gangaajal (
water from the holy Ganges), a couple of paan pata (betel leaves) and supari
(betel nuts).

 

Goddess Durga is commonly depicted with different vehicles every year, and to
be precise, there are four of them, each of which carries its own symbolic
meaning.

In 2023, Goddess Durga arrives and will depart in horse this year and it
carries the message of war and dispute and inclement weather, Dhaka
University Jagannath Hall Upasanalaya's chief priest Sadhan Chakrabarty said
adding "this is considered inauspicious".

Recitation of verses from the Holy Sri Sri Chandi, blowing of conch shells
and beating of traditional dhak-dhols (traditional drums), kashor at temples
and pandals began from today and it will continue for next five days until
immersion of idols on the day of Bijoya Dashami on October 24.

Bangalee Hindus might have a plethora of festivals (baaro maaashe tero parbon
or 13 festivals in 12 months) but Durgotsab remains the queen bee.

The festival is basically a lavish homecoming of sorts, held to commemorate
Goddess Durga's return to her father's home or the earthly abode from her
husband's (Lord Shiva) home in Mount Kailash.

Exquisitely crafted and decorated life-size clay idols of the Goddess Durga
depicting her slaying the demon Mahishasura will formally be installed at
temples in midnight tonight to worship Goddess Durga for four days next
before immersion of the idols in rivers, ponds or water bodies on the fifth
day of Bijoya Dashami.

The celebrations also include offering puja to other major deities of
Hinduism such as goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth, prosperity), Saraswati
(goddess of knowledge and music), Ganesha (god of good beginnings) and
Kartikeya (god of war).

Durga Puja celebrations consist of many rituals having special significance.

On Saturday, the second day of the celebration, Maha Saptami puja will be
held in the morning as nabapatrika, nine plants including a banana tree are
tied together and wrapped in a white saree with red borders, will be bathed
in the water of the holy Ganges placed next to Ganesha on that day.

Some Bengalis call it 'Kolabou' (the banana-bride) and it is regarded by many
as one of the wives of Lord Ganesha.

But this is actually not one of Ganesha's wives. It is considered a
representation of Goddess Durga. It is also known as 'Nabapatrika' as nine
plants are tied together to form it and each plant represent the nine forms
of the goddess -Brahmani (banana), Kalika (colocasia), Durga (turmeric),
Kartiki (jayanti), Shiva (wood apple), Raktadantika (pomegranate), Sokrahita
(ashoka), Chamunda (arum) and Lakshmi (paddy).

 

On the third day of Maha Ashtami on October 22, different rituals including
offering of Anjali and Kumari Puja will be held in the morning and Sandhi
Puja in the late afternoon or in the evening.

Kumari Puja means worshipping of a prepubescent girl as the living
incarnation or avatar of Maa Durga. She is dressed in new clothes and dressed
up in floral ornaments. This ritual has its origins in the Puranas.

Sandhi Puja will be offered at a transition point between Ashtami and Nabami.
The last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami are known
as 'Sandhikkhon', said priest Barun Chakrabarty.

According to the Puranas, this is an auspicious moment in time when Durga
manifests into Chamunda. Chamunda is a fierce, indomitable entity, who
single-handedly defeated demon duo Sumbha and Nisumbha. A total of 108
earthen lamps (pradip) are lit to celebrate this momentous occasion. The
priests chant mantras and drummers time their beats to the chants.

Maha Nabami Puja will be held on the fourth day on October 23. Dunuchi Nach
takes place on that day. This is one of the most exciting rituals of the
Durga Puja.

Clay pots are filled with smoking charcoal. Some people take the pot in their
hands and start dancing. The daredevils try to balance the clay pot on their
heads. Some who wish to be even more adventurous attempt to hold the pot
through their teeth! Earlier the dhunuchi nach was performed only by men.
However nowadays women are also emerging as dhunuchi dance experts.

On the final day of Bijaya Dashami, puja will be offered in the morning and
Darpan Bisharjan will also be held.

Sindoor khela is one the most popular part of Durga Puja on the day of Bijoya
Dashami.

Traditionally, married women whose husbands are still alive take part in this
ritual. The word, sindoor khela translates to a vermilion game. As the name
suggests, women play around with various shades of red vermilion powder.

On Dashami, Maa Durga is given a grand farewell before she is immersed in the
river water. Married women offer vermilion and sweets to the goddess. After
that, they smear each other with vermilion playfully. It is believed that
this ritual will bring good fortune for their family and help their husbands
live longer.

The five-day festival will come to an end with immersion of idols of goddess
Durga and her offspring - Ganesha, Karitik, Laxmi and Saraswati - and
devotees will receive Shantijol (sacred water from where deities are
immersed) on that day of Bijoya Dashami.

This is a bittersweet day. The goddess and her children are taken out of
their earthly abode or the pandal for Bisarjan or immersion in the river.
This indicates her return to Mount Kailash. Devotees often shout "Aschhe
bochhor abar hobe" (Durga Puja will return next year again).

In the past, the idols were carried on bamboo structures. However, nowadays
the idols are transported in trucks or pickup vans to riverbanks and then
they are placed in a boat and taken to the middle of the river for immersion.

After immersion of idols, young members of the family touch the feet of the
elders to seek blessings. Some hug each other (kolakuli). Sweets such as
chomchom, kalojam, sandesh, narkeler naru (mounds made of coconut and
jaggery) are distributed on this day.

In the capital Dhaka, the main puja mandaps are at Dhakeshwari National
Temple, Ramkrishna Mission and Math, Kalabagan, Banani, Shakhari Bazar and
Ramna Kali Mandir.

In major divisional cities including port city Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna
and Sylhet and district towns including Faridpur, Dinajpur, Jashore, Kushtia,
Satkhira, also witness massive celebration of Durga Puja.

Durga Puja will be celebrated at 32,408 mandaps across the country this year
including 245 in the capital, according to Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad
(BPUP).

BPUP general secretary Prof Chandranath Poddar said the country saw Durga
Puja celebration at 32,168 mandaps including 241 in the capital last year.

He said meetings were held with law enforcement agencies and concerned
departments of the government for the peaceful celebration of the puja as
several top officials of law enforcement agencies already visited key temples
including Dhakeshwari temple and assured of providing all-out security
measures.

"We are hopeful, Durga Puja will be celebrated across the country peacefully
in proper manner," he said.

Puja shopping is still going marking Durga Puja as major markets and malls
are crowded with customers.

Stringent security measures have taken across the country during the
celebration of Durga Puja to avert any untoward situation.