Bengali community across the world awaiting homecoming of Goddess Durga

Kolkata, Sep 9 : A faint fragrance of the flowers lingers in the autumn air, the dryness in the air is perceptible, along with the visual shortening of the days it encompasses, for Bengalis the world over, it is that time of the year again, when they make merry and celebrate the homecoming of Goddess Durga to her father Himalaya’s home. The eagerly awaited time of the year has arrived when Bengalis wake up to the maddening beats of the dhak every morning, which help them to assume the festive aura during the five-day long Durga Puja celebration. Durga Puja is celebrated in West Bengal in the month of Ashwin/Kartika (corresponding to September/October in the Gregorian calendar). The conventional time to celebrate Durga Puja is during Basanta Ritu (or Spring time). However the time Bengali community worship ma Durga is during the Hemanta Ritu (or Autumn). This is called Akal Bodhan(Uncustomary time to start worship). It is said in Hindu Mythology that a demon named Mahishasura had once pleased Mahadev with his long and hard meditation and as a consequence Mahadev had blessed him that no man or deity would be able to kill him and his death was possible only in the hands of a woman. The arrogant Mahishasura high with his powers created devastation across the universe and captured the heavens driving away the gods. When nothing could stop him, Brahma , Vishnu and Maheshwar – the great trinity of Hindu Gods, came together to concentrate their pure energy in creating a goddess – Durga. She is the goddess of Shakti (power) – the one who will destroy evil and protect goodness This Shakti took the form of a female power, Maa Durga. Durga fought a raging battle against Mahishasur, which went on for nine days. On the tenth and last day, the demon was successfully killed. This day is marked as the Vijayadashami. Goddess Durga is the one with 10 hands which signifies that she protects everyone from 10 directions, or from every direction because she is the savior and protector of goodness from evil. She like Mahadev also has three eyes with the third eye in the center of her forehead, for which she is also called Triyambake – or the goddess with three eyes. In Bengali language she is called ‘Trinayani’. The threeeyes represents the powers of universe – the left eye represents desire(the moon), the right eye represents action (the sun), and the central eye knowledge (fire).  UNI