Mahalaya:A Once-a-Year Popular Radio Prog - Page 5

108 Names of Durga Puja

Regional Names of Durga Puja

Goddess, invoked for protection from the powers of evil.

Durga Puja is identified by different regional names throughout India. This diversity across various states bind the people in a unique way. Durga Puja is one of the most important religious festival of Hindus, celebrating the return of the goddess to her natal home. But, this great Hindu festival is recounted and celebrated slightly differently in various regions taking on different forms and names. The festival of Durga Puja is characterized by a variety of prayers and rituals. The name of the Durga puja vary from locale to locale as common for most of the Hindu festivals. The various distinct regional names of this festival are:

Durga Puja / Durga Pujo

Navratri Puja

Kullu Dussehra

Mysore Dussehra

Bommai Kolu

Ayudha Puja

Vidyaramba

Saraswati Puja


• Simollanghan

Regional Names of Durga Puja: Durga Puja / Durga Pujo

Durga Pujo Celebration in West Bangal

Region: West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi & Madhya Pradesh.


During Durga puja or Durga Pujo (commonly called in West Bengal), the idols of Goddess Durga are worshipped for nine days in beautifully decorated 'pandaals'. It is a public festival. On the tenth day,the 'Visarjan' or immersion of idols in sea waters is performed. During this time, in various parts of India, the 'Ram-Leela' is performed. Ram-Leela is a stage inaction of Ramayana, the story of Lord Rama. Durga puja has come to be associated with a grand exhibition of cultural functions.

In towns and villages, the evenings are replete with jatra, theatre, song, music, dance programmes, sports, physical and cultural competitions etc which everyone is free to attend. Community feasts are held. The immersion ceremony (vijaya), provides an impressive finale.

Mahalaya

People offering 'tarpan' in memory of their deceased forefathers.

Mahalaya ushers in the aura of Durga Puja. The countdown for the Durga Puja begins much earlier, from the day of 'Janmastami'. It is only from the day of Mahalaya that the preparations for the Durga Puja reaches the final stage. The midnight chants of various hymns of 'Mahishasura Mardini' reminds one of the beginning of Durga Puja.

Mahalaya is an auspicious occasion observed seven days before the Durga Puja, and heralds the advent of Durga, the goddess of supreme power. It's a kind of invocation or invitation to the mother goddess to descend on earth - "Jago Tumi Jago". This is done through the chanting of mantras and singing devotional songs.

The day of Mahalaya is also the day of remembrance. On this day, people offer 'tarpan' in memory of their deceased forefathers. The banks of River Ganga becomes a sea of humanity. Priests are seen busy performing 'Tarpan' for devotees in groups. The rituals start from early down and end during the midday. Devotees and worshipers buy clothes and sweets to offer to their forefathers. 'Tarpan' is to be performed in empty stomach. After offering 'tarpan', people eat at the same place

Originally posted by: s.priya

Typically, every south indian household (at least tamilians and tamil brahmins from kerala) have GOLU in their houses.

Golu is basically a stand consisting of 2,5,7, or 9 step (like a staircase) which is decorated and adorned with dolls all of which signify some story from our puranas. Decorative lights, flowers, rangoli etc are used to decorate the Golu.

Important part of the golu is the two silver cups containing rice and pulses, which signify properity. Another important part, without which the Golu is incomplete are the Marapachis - i.e. dolls of wood. These are traditional dolls which are handed down over generations and which is given to the daughter - in law of the house on her marriage and first navaratri.
This is how a golu looks like.



This is the traditional Marapachi or the dolls in wood.

Priya ji,

I was reading from the first page and was going to post about the "Golu" which we call "Bommala Koluvu"(koluvu meaning a place where everybody meets,here it is the dolls) in Andhra 😊

Thank u Barnali ji...This thread is very nostalgic 😃

Originally posted by: chitra anand

Adi,the pujo is still celebrated in the bengali association.I don't go there.I sometimes go to Ramakakrishna mission.Nothing can beat the hoi choi of kolkata 😭

I have only been once to west bengal for Puja and I was in Kharagpur for most of the puja days except nabami i think when I went back to kolkata. The whole city kind of becomes festive, the lights, the moods, the people and My GOD so many people all in new clothes.. the total atmosphere was filled with laughter..and it is awake 24 hours.I remember due to the bheed issue we went pujo hopping late at night and it was even then crowded and what decorations -Mindblowing..the ideas, the concepts..totally a different experience than from what we had in Bangalore where we all gathered for the Association pujo and had fun filled 4 days.The West bengal pujo was an awesome experience for a teenager.

This year here we will be celebrating the pujo after lakkhi pujo...😆..because the long weekend comes around that time....even here the pujo time is fun filled three days.

heard my mom discuss with her friend the other day..if she had already decided on what to wear and for which bela....😆

..and also remember the Ayudu puja.. our car would be decked up so well and the driver took pride in all the decorations and when we went to the Puja mandap..he would very proudly tell all..the decoration is all done by him..the car looked like a chariot with plenty of flowers...😆