Bigg Boss 19: daily Discussion Thread- 1st Sept 2025.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki: Episode Discussion Thread - 26
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai - 01 Sep 2025 EDT
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Sept 2, 2025 Episode Discussion Thread
UMAR KHAYID 1.9
ABHEERA IN JAIL 2.9
Bacha chor is such an incompetent lawyer🤦♀️
What’s the upcoming track??
Mrunal Thakur Called Mean Girl
In this gen Cliff wali legacy maut will not happen
I wanted Abheera’s fate for Akshara
Janhvi Kapoor In Talks For Chaalbaaz Remake
Jee Le Zaraa Is Happening
Real Woman Power Farhana
Celebs pictures during Ganesh Festival
The story element is captivating. It speaks of the increasing cruelty of the demon king Mahisasura against the gods. Unable to tolerate his tyranny the gods plead with Vishnu to annihilate the demon. The Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara (Shiva) come together to create a powerful female form with ten arms - Goddess Durga or 'Mahamaya', the Mother of the Universe who embodies the primeval source of all power.
The gods then bestow upon this Supreme creation their individual blessings and weapons. Armed like a warrior, the goddess rides a lion to battle with the Mahisasura. After a fierce combat the 'Durgatinashini' is able to slay the 'Asura' king with her trident. Heaven and earth rejoice at her victory. Finally, the mantra narration ends with the refrain of mankind's supplication before this Supreme Power:"Ya devi sarbabhuteshshu, sakti rupena sanksthita Namasteshwai Namasteshwai Namasteshwai namo namaha."
Mahashashthi
On this day the Divine Mother arrives to the mortal world from her heavenly abode this is the eve of the Puja, accompanied by her children. Unveiling the face of the idol is the main ritual on this day. Kalaparambho, the ritual performed before the commencement of the puja precedes Bodhon, Amontron and Adibas.
Mahasaptami
Saptami is the first day of Durga puja. Kola Bow( Nabapatrika) is given a pre-dawn bath. This is an ancient ritual of worshiping nine types of plants. They are together worshiped as a symbol of the goddess. The main Saptami Puja follows Kalparambho and Mahasnan.
Mahaastami
Day two begins with a recital of Sanskrit hymns, as thousands of devotees offered anjali to the goddess. As the day wore on, it was time for the important Sandhi Puja, which marks the inter-linking of the Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami.
Mahanavami
On day three this is the concluding day of Durga Puja. The main Navami puja begins after the end of Sandhi Puja.
Dashami & Vijaya
The last day after the three days of Puja, in Dashami , a tearful farewell is offered to the Goddess. And a grand send-off is arranged. The images are carried in processions around the locality and finally is immersed in a nearby river.
The scriptures mention the great care with which the Kumari is selected to be worshipped as the earthly representative of Devi Durga. The qualities required in the girl has to match the dynamism, purity and serenity of the Goddess. A calm, serene and an unmarried girl with a bright disposition between one to sixteen years, who has not yet reached her puberty and is bereft of desire, worldly pleasures and anger is the right requisite for the Kumari Puja.
Depending on the age of the girls they are worshipped in the various forms of the Goddess. A one year old girl is worshipped in the Sandhya form of the Devi while a two year old is worshipped in the Saraswati mould of the Devi. A three year old girl is worshipped in the Tridha form of Durga and a four year old is worshipped in the Kalika mould of the Devi. Subhaga and Uma are the forms of Durga for a five and a six year old respectively.
Malini form of the Goddess represents a seven year old while Kujjika represents a eight year old girl. Kalsondarbha and Aparajita stands for a ten year old girl and an eleven year old girl. Bhairavi is represented by a twelve year old girl and Mahalakhmi by a thirteen year old girl. Pitnayika, Khetragya and Ambika by a fourteen, fifteen and sixteen year old girl respectively.
Kumari Puja is held on Ashtami or sometimes Nabami. Kumari Puja is performed in Annapurna, Jagatdhatri and even Kali Puja as without Kumari Puja, the yagna remains incomplete. In the dawn of Ashtami or Nabami, the Kumari is bathed in Ganga water and is clad in a red benarasi saari. She is then adorned with flowers and jewelry, alta is applied to her feet and a 'tilak' of sindur on her forehead. The young Kumari fasts the whole day until the puja is over. On a decorated chair she is made to sit before the goddess and a flower from the Devi's hand is placed in her hand. Placed before her are flowers, bel (wood apple) leaves, incense sticks, lamps, 'noibiddo' and other things required for puja. The purohit then chants the mantras and the sound of dhak fill the atmosphere. After the puja the divinity of the Goddess Durga is said to be seen in the girl. It is customary to gift the girl with gold, silver and clothes. To gift the Kumari is considered to be a pious act.
Kumari Puja is very much prevalent in Belur Math. In 1902, Swami Vivekananda performed Kumari puja for the first time in Belur. In the premises of the Math, in the mandap, in the presence of Sarada Ma, Swamiji worshipped nine Kumari girls. He offered pushpanjali at their feet, gave them sweets and 'dakshina' (gift). He touched their feet after the completion of the puja. Later with meditation and mantras he worshipped Sarada Ma as Goddess Durga.
The traditional icon of the goddess worshiped during the Durga Puja is in line with the iconography delineated in the scriptures. In Durga, the Gods bestowed their powers to co-create a beautiful goddess with ten arms, each carrying their most lethal weapon. The tableau of Durga also features her four children -Kartikeya, Ganesha, Saraswati and Lakshmi. Traditional clay image of Durga orpratima made of clay with all five gods and goddesses under one structure is known as 'ek-chala' ('ek' = one, 'chala' = cover).
There are two kinds of embellishments that are used on clay - sholar saaj anddaker saaj. In the former, the pratima is traditionally decorated with the white core of the shola reed which grows within marshlands. As the devotees grew wealthier, beaten silver (rangta) was used. The silver used to be imported from Germany and was delivered by post (dak). Hence the name daker saaj.
The huge temporary canopies - held by a framework of bamboo poles and draped with colorful fabric - that house the icons are called 'pandals'. Modern pandals are innovative, artistic and decorative at the same time, offering a visual spectacle for the numerous visitors who go 'pandal-hopping' during the four days of Durga Puja.
Bonedi Bari's Puja
As these chants fill up the thakur dalaan of Shovabazaar Rajbari, and the priest uses the pancha-pradeep with rhythmic dexterity to offer prayers to the goddess, one is pleasantly led back in time to remember the historical moments when this Durga Puja had been witnessed by stalwarts like Lord Clive, Warren Hastings, Lord and Lady Bentick, Lord and Lady Canning, Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, Iswar Chandra Vidya Sagar and the Maharajas of Burdwan and Natore. Bengalis never understood when, and how, a deity became a part of their family. Many families of Kolkata, who had started worshipping the Durga either in her Chamunda or in her Dashapraharana Dharini form have continued to do so even after centuries of its initiation.Be it the Saborno Choudhury family, the Deb family of Shovabazaar, the Haatkhola Dutta Bari, the Laha Bari or even the Mallik family, all the families have been celebrating the Durga Puja with grandeur and sanctity in their own house styles from the 17th and 18th centuries. Nothing seems to have changed for them with respect to norms, other than the restrictions imposed by the government and the inevitable effects caused by the economic meltdown.Durga Puja in the Saborno Choudhury household dates back to 1610 when it was started by Ray Lakshmikanta Gangopadhyay Mazumdar Choudhury and his wife Bhagabati Debi in Barisha. Though the puja was performed on a single chal-chitra, it did have three divisions within the chal and this form has been maintained till date. Eight pujas are performed in the family in eight separate houses (Aath Chala Bari, Boro Bari, Mejo Bari, Majher Bari, Benaki Bari, Kalikinkar Bari, Birati Bari and Nimta Bari) in the Durga Bhakti Tarangini Tantra way.Where on the one hand the Choudhury family is bereft of any show-off, there on the other hand, the Deb family of Shovabazaar plans an elaborate Durga Puja. Started by Raja Nabakrishna Deb in 1757, the festive mood has remained intact. They are staunch followers of tradition and even the slightest shift from the age-old norms is not allowed. This is the 7th generation of the Deb family who are celebrating the Durga Puja and so are the idol makers who make the Durga idol inside the Rajbari premises. The Ek-chala of the goddess is decorated with silver finery called "Daker saaj." An interesting history lies behind the name "Daker saaj." The silver foils which were imported from Germany came through post meaning dak' and thus the decoration came to be known as Daker Saaj'. But today the German silver foils have been replaced by local synthetic material. The idol is adorned in gold.Earlier the Debs fired canons during Sandhi Puja. But today, canons have been replaced by guns that are fired by members of the Deb family. Adding to the "Babu" culture was yet another ritual of Kanakanjali where the eldest married woman, mother of a child would stand with her anchal spread and the priest would throw gold coins dating to the time of Akbar on behalf of Durga. But even this ritual underwent change due to dispute over age and gold coins becoming scarce. Even today the Debs have the coins but only as memento as silver replaced gold coins in 1957.Many myths surround a durga puja and the reason for its initiation just like that of Laha Bari. It is said that the Laha Bari Durga Puja, started some 170 years ago.Some say it was Ishwar Pran Krishna Laha performed Durga Puja for the first time but another view point states that it was Sri Rajiblochan Loha, Pran Krishna's father, who started it nearly 200 years ago. Spiritually inclined Rajiblochan Loha, was said to have been visited in his dreams by his family goddess who asked him to perform Durga Puja. The puja has been performed with fervor and devotion till date.The Mullick Bari Durga puja started from the time of Nawab Husen Shah of Bengal nearly around 15th century AD. Suratha at Srikhanda pioneered the puja. In the 19th century the puja was shifted to the Masjid Bari Street of Calcutta by Ishwar chandra Mullick. Later the Mullicks shifted to Gupti Para and finally settled in Bhowanipur.Since 1925 Durga puja is held at the Bhowanipur residence. The idol is worshipped in "Ekchala" form. There are two different locations in Mullick bari where the puja rituals are performed. They are "Annapurna dalan" and the other "Durga Dalan". Mullicks are basically Vaishnavas and practice no rituals of animal or vegetable sacrifice. Over the years it has been one long tradition for the patuas of Bhowanipur to make the Durga idol for the Mullicks. The family takes vegetarian food from Sasthi to Nabami and it's only after the immersion of the idol on Dashami they prepare non-veg food. After immersion, according to custom of the house, the eldest family member serve "siddhi" to the rest of the family and bless them with "Astadurba" or eight varieties of grasses.No matter which family or which style of puja, the part that draws attention is the sincerity with which the tradition has lived till date. There have been hurdles, there have been changes; but the tradition has made its way through all this and lived with head held high. Where all around us rules are being broken, relations are being strained and old beliefs are crumbling, there these families are trying might and mane to preserve what their ancestors left behind for them ~ a culture that they all cherish and want to keep alive braving all gusts of change.
Pitru Paksha is considered by Hindus to be inauspicious, given the death rite performed during the ceremony, known as Shraddha or tarpan. In southern and western India, it falls in the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapada (September-October), beginning with the full moon day (Purnima) that occurs immediately after the Ganesh festival and ending with the new moon day known as Sarvapitri amavasya, Mahalaya amavasya or simply Mahalaya. The autumnal equinox falls within this period, i.e. the Sun transitions from the northern to the southern hemisphere during this period. In North India and Nepal, this period corresponds to the dark fortnight of the month Ashvin, instead of Bhadrapada.
"Ya devi sarbabhuteshshu, sakti rupena sanksthita Namasteshwai Namasteshwai Namasteshwai namo namaha."
3rd post
Story of Maa Durga
In the ancient times, a demon called 'Mahishasura' earned the favour of 'Lord Shiva' after a long meditation. Shiva, pleased with the devotion of the demon, blessed him with a boon that no man or Deity would be able to kill him. Empowered with the boon, Mahishasura started his reign of terror over the World. People were killed mercilessly and even the Gods were driven out from heaven. The Gods went to Shiva for relief and informed him about the atrocities caused by the demon. Shiva, who is normally unaware of the happenings in the material world, became very angry after hearing all this. This anger came out in the form of an energy from Shiva's third eye and concentrated to form a woman. All the Gods who were present there contributed their share of energy to this Goddess and thus Durga, the eternal mother, was born. Riding a lion, she attacked Mahishasura. After a fierce battle, Durga transformed into Devi Chandika, the most ferocious form of the Goddess, and beheaded Mahishasura.
Akalbodhan Story
In the 'Ramayana', as it goes, Rama went to 'Lanka' to rescue his abducted wife, Sita, from the grip of Ravana, the king of the Demons in Lanka. Before starting for his battle with Ravana, Rama wanted the blessings of Devi Durga . He came to know that the Goddess would be pleased only if she is worshipped with one hundred 'NeelKamal' or blue lotuses. Rama, after travelling the whole world, could gather only ninety nine of them. He finally decided to offer one of his eyes, which resembled blue lotuses. Durga, being pleased with the devotion of Rama, appeared before him and blessed him. The battle started on the 'Saptami' and Ravana was finally killed on the 'Sandhikshan' i.e. the crossover period between Ashtami (the next day) and Navami (the day after). Ravana was cremated on Dashami. Since the period of this worship was different from the conventional period (during the spring - 'Basanta'), this puja is also known as 'Akal-Bodhan' or a worship (Bodhan) in an unconventional time (A-Kaal).
4th Post
Durga Puja
Durga Puja, also referred to as Durgotsava, celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijayadashami.
Durga Puja festival marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. Thus, Durga Puja festival epitomises the victory of Good over Evil.
Mahashashthi
On this day the Divine Mother arrives to the mortal world from her heavenly abode this is the eve of the Puja, accompanied by her children. Unveiling the face of the idol is the main ritual on this day. Kalaparambho, the ritual performed before the commencement of the puja precedes Bodhon, Amontron and Adibas.
Mahasaptami
Maha-Saptami is the first day of Durga Puja. Kola Bou or Nabapatrika is given a pre-dawn bath. This is an ancient ritual of worshiping nine types of plants. They are together worshiped as a symbol of the goddess. The main Maha-Saptami Puja follows "Kalparambho" and "Maha-Snan". After establishing "Kola Bou", Maha Saptami Puja Starts, and it ends after goat sacrificing and Pushpanjali. The Maha-Saptami bhog is offered to the goddess. In the afternoon every villager of Ghoradanga has been served their lunch with the Prasad of Devi Durga in Durga Dalan (temple). In the evening of Maha-Saptami, the priest start Sandhyarati with the beats of "Dhak".
Mahaastami
The day begins with a recital of Sanskrit hymns. The devotees offered Pushpanjali to the goddess. Kumari Puja or the worship of little girls as the mother goddess was a special part of the rituals. It is observed in our family Puja. The Maha-Ashtami bhog is offered to the goddess. As the day wore on, it was the time for the important Sandhi Puja that is the connecting point of the Maha-Ashtami and Maha-Navami.
It is believed that during the Sandhikkha (end of 8th luner day and starting of 9th Luner day) Maa Durga is worshipped in her Chamunda form. Devi Durga killed, Chando and Mundo, the two asuras at "Sandhikhan" and thus acquired the name of "Chamunda".
While the Goddess and Mahishasura were engaged in a fierce battle, the two generals of Mahisha, Chando and Mundo attacked the Devi from the the rear. Durga appeared to them, a brilliantly glowing woman with her hair knotted on her head, a crescent moon above her forehead, a 'tilak' on her forehead and a garland around her neck. With golden earrings and clad in a yellow saari she emitted a golden glow. Her ten hands possessed ten different weapons. Though she appeared beautiful her face turned blue with anger when she faced Chondo and Mundo. From her third eye then emerged a Devi with a large falchion and a shield. She had a large face, bloody tongue and sunken blood shot eyes. She was Chamunda. With a bloodcurdling shriek she leapt forward and killed them. This moment was the juncture of the 8th and 9th lunar day.
Sandhi Puja requires 108 lotus flowers, a single fruit, dry rice grain for "noibiddo", 108 earthen lamps, clothes, jewelry, hibiscus garlands and wood apple (bel) leaves. The almost non existent rituals which underwent changes with the changes in the society can still be seen in some of the 200-250 year old Pujas.
Mahanavami
This is the ending day of Durga Puja. The main Navami Puja begins after the end of Sandhi Puja. The Navami Bhog is offered to the goddess. On the day of Navami, the Sugar-cane and White pumpkin has been sacrificed.
Dashami & Vijaya
On the tenth day, Durga the mother returns to her husband, Shiva, ritualised through her immersion into the waters Bishorjon also known as Bhaashan and Niranjan
At the end of six days, the idol is taken for immersion in a procession amid loud chants of 'Bolo Durga mai-ki jai' (glory be to Mother Durga') and 'aashchhe bochhor abar hobe' ('it will happen again next year') and drumbeats to the river or other water body. It is cast in the waters symbolic of the departure of the deity to her home with her husband in the Himalayas. After this, in a tradition called Vijaya Dashami, families visit each other and sweetmeats are offered to visitors (Dashami is literally "tenth day" and Vijay is "victory").
The scriptures mention the great care with which the Kumari is selected to be worshipped as the earthly representative of Devi Durga. The qualities required in the girl has to match the dynamism, purity and serenity of the Goddess. A calm, serene and an unmarried girl with a bright disposition between one to sixteen years, who has not yet reached her puberty and is bereft of desire, worldly pleasures and anger is the right requisite for the Kumari Puja.
Kumari Puja is held on Ashtami or sometimes Nabami. Kumari Puja is performed in Annapurna, Jagatdhatri and even Kali Puja as without Kumari Puja, the yagna remains incomplete. In the dawn of Ashtami or Nabami, the Kumari is bathed in Ganga water and is clad in a red benarasi saari. She is then adorned with flowers and jewelry, alta is applied to her feet and a 'tilak' of sindur on her forehead. The young Kumari fasts the whole day until the puja is over. On a decorated chair she is made to sit before the goddess and a flower from the Devi's hand is placed in her hand. Placed before her are flowers, bel (wood apple) leaves, incense sticks, lamps, 'noibiddo' and other things required for puja. The purohit then chants the mantras and the sound of dhak fill the atmosphere. After the puja the divinity of the Goddess Durga is said to be seen in the girl. It is customary to gift the girl with gold, silver and clothes. To gift the Kumari is considered to be a pious act.
5th Post
The traditional icon of the goddess worshiped during the Durga Puja is in line with the iconography delineated in the scriptures. In Durga, the Gods bestowed their powers to co-create a beautiful goddess with ten arms, each carrying their most lethal weapon. The tableau of Durga also features her four children -Kartikeya, Ganesha, Saraswati and Lakshmi. Traditional clay image of Durga orpratima made of clay with all five gods and goddesses under one structure is known as 'ek-chala' ('ek' = one, 'chala' = cover).
There are two kinds of embellishments that are used on clay - sholar saaj anddaker saaj. In the former, the pratima is traditionally decorated with the white core of the shola reed which grows within marshlands. As the devotees grew wealthier, beaten silver (rangta) was used. The silver used to be imported from Germany and was delivered by post (dak). Hence the name daker saaj.
The huge temporary canopies - held by a framework of bamboo poles and draped with colorful fabric - that house the icons are called 'pandals'. Modern pandals are innovative, artistic and decorative at the same time, offering a visual spectacle for the numerous visitors who go 'pandal-hopping' during the four days of Durga Puja.
Bonedi Bari's Puja
As these chants fill up the thakur dalaan of Shovabazaar Rajbari, and the priest uses the pancha-pradeep with rhythmic dexterity to offer prayers to the goddess, one is pleasantly led back in time to remember the historical moments when this Durga Puja had been witnessed by stalwarts like Lord Clive, Warren Hastings. Be it the Saborno Choudhury family, the Deb family of Shovabazaar, the Haatkhola Dutta Bari, the Laha Bari or even the Mallik family, all the families have been celebrating the Durga Puja with grandeur and sanctity in their own house styles from the 17th and 18th centuries. Nothing seems to have changed for them with respect to norms, other than the restrictions imposed by the government and the inevitable effects caused by the economic meltdown.
6th Post
Durg Puja Celebration in India
Assam
In Silchar more than 300 exhibits, known as pandals, decorated with lights, sculptures and other art forms are created. After Bihu, Durga Puja is the most popular festival of Assam. According to historian Late Benudhar Sarma, the present form of worship of Durga with earthen idol in Assam was started during the reign of Ahom King Susenghphaa or Pratap Singha.
Nowadays the Durga Puja is mostly a community festival celebrated in all the cities, towns, villages of Assam with great festivity and religious fervour for five days.Durga Puja is the main festival of Hindus in the Bengali dominated Barak Valley of Assam, where Silchar is the main city. It is said that Durga Puja started in the valley during the rule of Dimasa king Suradarpa Narayan.
Bihar
Durga Puja is one of the major festivals in Bihar. Hundreds of pandals are set up with carnivals. The city witnesses a huge surge in visitors in the four days from Maha Saptami. More than 100 exhibits, known as Pandals are setup across the city. Ancient Places of Patna Durga Puja includes Bari and Chhoti Patan Devi, Maa Shitla Mandir Agamkuan etc.
Gujarat
Navaratri is devoted to Amba mataji. In some homes, images of mataji are worshiped in accordance with accepted practice. This is also true of the temples, which usually have a constant stream of visitors from morning to night. The most common form of public celebration is the performance of garba and dandia-ras/ras-garba (a form of garba with sticks),Gujarat's popular folk-dance, late throughout the nights of these nine days in public squares, open grounds and streets.
Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, Durga Puja is an enjoyable occasion. Puja is performed each day and devotees do not remove the flower garland that is put each day on the idol or image of the deity. After nine days, all nine garlands are removed together. Young girls who have not attained maturity are invited to eat, play games, dance and sing. An elephant is drawn with Rangoli, and the girls play guessing games.It is called as 'bhondala' Then they are fed a meal of their choice.
New Delhi
In 1910, a year before Delhi was declared the capital of British India, the first Sarbojanin(community) puja in Delhi was organised near Kashmiri Gate by a group of expatriate Bengalis, including the doctor Hemchandra Sen. This group became the Delhi Durga Puja Samiti, popularly known as the Kashmere Gate Puja. The Timarpur puja (near Delhi University) started in 1914. The pujas at Minto Road and Mata Sundari Road started shortly thereafter. By the 1970s, 40 pujas were being held in Delhi
Today, over 800 pujas are held in Delhi, with a few hundred more in Gurgaon and Noidaeach. By the 1970s, 40 pujas were being celebrated in Delhi, with many theatre troupes performing.
Puja in Abroad
Bangladesh
Bangladesh has the second largest Hindu population in the world. Being the largest religious festival for Bengali Hindus, Durga Puja celebrations span across the country with over thousands of Puja Mandaps set up in villages, towns and cities. A three-day holiday is observed by all educational institutions, while Bijay Dashami is a national holiday.
United Kingdom
Bengalis from state of West Bengal (India) migrated to the UK from early 60s and contributed as doctors,engineers and skilled work force. They brought with them Ma Durga, and Durga Puja is celebrated all over UK with much gusto and enthusiasm. From north of UK, to South there are scores of Durga Puja, and these 4/5 days makes one feel part of West Bengal. The celebration includes not only the Bengalis but many other Hindus as well. During the same period, the Gujarati community also celebrates 9 nights of Puja (Goddesses Ame, similar to Goddesses Durga) and famous Gurba community dance, culminating in to Dashera festival.Amongst the noteworthy Pujas in London, London Sharad Utsav Puja hosted at Ealing Town Hall has attracted London's Bengalis due jovial atmosphere, well organised cultural programs by renowned artists, and excellent food arrangements.
China
In 2004, a group of Indians residing in China came together and organised Durga puja in Shanghai. Since then it has become an yearly affair and has got bigger with active participation from the Indian, expat and the Chinese community. The idol of Ma Durga has been brought in from Kumartuli. Every year purohit from India is flown in to perform the puja. Elaborate decoration are done at the venue to give a very distinct look of a pandal interior. Men, women and children turn up in traditional Indian dress at the event. Dhaks are played and Dhunuchi dances are performed. Bhog is served to all guests.The evenings are occupied with community cultural program and performance from visiting overseas artist.The event receives a fair bit of support from personal and corporate sponsors.
Middle East
In Muscat, Bongiyo Parishad (Bengali Association of Muscat) celebrates Durga Puja with Bhog distribution (Astomi & Navami) and Anjali in Shiva Temple. Vijaya sammilani (cultural programs on the event of Vijaya Dashami/ Dussehra) is also a part of this celebration. Hundreds of Bengalis and others are found to enjoy these days here. Traditional "Dhak" is not played here; but these days, recorded beats of "Dhak" add a separate dimension to the beats of the devotees' hearts.
Nepal
Dussehra in Nepal is called Dashain. As it is chiefly a Hindu nation, the pattern and dates of the festivals coincide with those of India. The King of Nepal plays a key role in the festivities, particularly during Saptami or the Seventh day of the pujas. Despite the overthrow of monarchy in Nepal, the Royal Family still has a significant cultural role in the nation.
United States, Europe and Australia
Durga Puja is organised by communities of Indians in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Although pandals are not constructed, the idols are flown in from Kumartuli in Bengal. The desire by the diaspora peoples to keep in touch with their cultural ties has led to a boom in religious tourism, as well as learning from priests or purohits versed in the rites. From 2006 the immersion of the Durga idol has been allowed in the Thames river for the festival which is held in London.
One of the biggest Durga Pujas in Europe takes place at the Ealing Town Hall, West London. Tthis Puja has gained in popularity over the last few years, to be one of the biggest held outside the subcontinent. Protima crafted in UK.
In the United States the pujas are often hosted during weekends with few exceptions. The puja weekends are time for Bengal friends and family to gather together to spend the weekend savouring Bengali culture. Cultural programs are held; there is food; stalls selling ethnic clothes, jewellery, books, music DVD's etc. There is a general atmosphere of festivity.
In Australia, the major Durga Puja festival were held in Sydney and Melbourne. They are also held very grandly in Perth, the capital of Western Australia. Bhog Distribution, Cultural Programmes, anjali and dhunuchi naach were the main events. BANSW and BPCSV were the main organizers in Sydney and Melbourne respectively.
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