Durga Puja Celebrations!! Joy Ma Durga! - Page 5

hen the entire Bengal, nay India, was under the British rule, inspite of being under the French administration at that time Chandannagar created a distinct tradition. Jagadhatri Puja is a major socio-cultural event in this region. The ancient history of Jagadhatri Puja in Chandannagar is unknown even today. It is heard that Indranarayan Chowdhury introduced the Jagadhatri Puja in Chandannagar in the manner of King Krishnachandra of Krishnanagore. The time of beginning of Jagadhatri Puja in Krishnanagore was 1762. Indranarayan Choudhury died in 1756. So Indranarayan Choudhury by no means introduce the Jagadhatri puja in Chandannagar. The beginning of Jagadhatri puja in Chandannagar probably dates back earlier than 1750. Indranarayan Choudhury performed the Jagadhatri puja at his own house in Chandannagar, at the time Krishna Chandra used to come to borrow money from Indranarayan Choudhury. Perhaps Krishnachandra was attracted to greatness of Jagadhatri at this time. The formal difference between Durga and Jagadhatri occurs in 'Mayatantra' and Jagadhatri is mentioned with reference to Durga in Krishnanda's 'Tantasaar'. The ruling to perform the special puja of the goddess on the ninth lunar day of the light fortnight in the month of Kartick has ben referred in 'Krityatattarnab' by Srinath Acharyachuramoni of the 15th-16th century. The fourhanded goddess is carried by the lion everywhere, an elephantlies of the feet of the lion. The idol has an old fashioned shaping, i.e. the face cutting is of a longish pattern; it has large eyes spread upto the years and the four hands display conch, discus, shaft, and bow respectively. The snake is her sacred thread.One of the main attraction of Jagadhatri idol of Chandannagar is the ornamental decoration of the goddess with sola and beautiful canvas of mats with painting at the back of the image.
The number of community pujas in Chandannagar, Bhadreswar and Champdany Municipal areas crosses 190 mark. Of these, 132 Puja committees in different localities in Chandannagar and Bhadreswar areaffiliated to the Chandannagar Central Jagadhatri Puja Committee. The Central committee renders all possible assistance to its constituents in getting permissions and clearances for holding Puja. The immersion procession is really memorable and enjoyable sight to witness which lakh of people throng in Chandannagar from far and near. The beautiful decorated tall images loaded on trucks are taken around the cityin a procession. This year 51 puja committees will take part in the procession.

Jagadhatri Puja Festival of Bengal

Subho Sharodiya Durga Puja to everyone here!

Originally posted by: Debipriya

Lakshmi Puja is another Bengali festival that is celebrated in every household. Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth is worshipped just after Durga Puja. Lakshmi is one of the daughters of Durga who symbolizes wealth, peace and prosperity. On a full moon night people worship her at their homes and pray for her bessings. All the rites performed during the Lakshmi Puja are followed with utmost care and

The Lakshmi Puja time schedule is also maintained well by the devoted. Delicious Bengali Recipes on Lakshmi Puja night are cooked and are then given to Goddess Laxmi as an offering.It is considered that Goddess Lakshmi visits homes of the devotees and replenishes them with wealth.

The Myth

Goddess Lakshmi is generally represented as a beautiful golden woman, usually sitting or standing on a lotus, her symbol. She is also known as 'Sri' and attained importance as the consort of Vishnu.

Goddess Lakshmi has generally been thought to have existed first as the daughter of the sage Bhrigu and to have taken refuge in the ocean of milk during a period when the gods were exiled from their kingdom as a result of a rishi's curse. She was reborn during the churning of the milk ocean as Lakshmi, one of the fourteen precious things.The Goddess of Wealth, emerged from the ocean forth fully grown

and radiant, bearing a lotus in her hand. Goddess Lakshmi was then married to Vishnu and has a clear share in Vishnu's activities as preserver, and this reinforces her earlier character as goddess of fortune and giver of wealth.

(Source-

http://www.bangalinet.com/laxmipuja.htm)

Lakshmi Puja in Kolkata is celebrated both by the Bengali community and the non-Bengali community. The Bengalis celebrate Lakshmi on the full moon day that succeeds Maha Dashami. Maha Dashami marks the end of the Durga Puja. Goddess Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, prosperity and peace. It is basically meant for housewives, who pray for the well being of their family but nowadays Lakshmi Pujas are also done in Pandals. On most occasions, the public Lakshmi pujas are done in the pandal, which was previously used for Durga Puja. The non-Bengali community conducts Lakshmi puja during the diwalis.

Description of the Idol of Goddess Lakshmi

The idol of Goddess Lakshmi is painted yellow and has four hands. She is draped either in 'Daker Shaj' ora sari and crown. She holds a lotus in one of her hands, a vermilion case in one hand, the ripe wheat flowers one another hand. Her bearer is the white owl.

Lakshmi Puja in Bengali Homes

The priest conducts the Puja and at times, the housewife herself conducts the rituals. The Ouja take place in the evening or night nut within the specified time span. The homes are decorated with 'Alpana'. The white color of the alpana is made from ground rice and water. Small, face to face 'S' shapes are drawn all over the homes to symbolize the footprints of the goddess. In some homes, symbols are used instead of idols. The symbolic representatives includes ripe wheat and containers or painted mud plates. The priest performs rituals and ararti. The unique feature is that they unlike other Indian pujas no musical instruments are played. Only the shell is sounded.

(Source- http://www.mapsofworld.com/cities/india/kolkata/lakshmi-puja.html )