Ma Durga

Ma Durga at one of the London Durga Pujas 2008

durga puja

my favourite festival, i wait eagerly for this throught the year.

Durga Puja

An example of Durga Puja in London, UK

Durga Puja

Godess Durga,in one of the Pandals of Calcutta now Kolkata.

durga puja at losangeles

losangeles

Durga Puja, an Indian family festival

A big festival in India is Durga Puja. Celebrated in October for 5 days, it is a festival of worshipping the mother of creation.

Durga Puja

Durja Puja celebrations in London, UK

Durga

There are various versions about the incarnation of Goddess Durga. The most common one goes like this: Once upon a time, a demon by the name of Mahishashur became very powerful because of a boon conferred upon him by God Shiva. As a result he invaded the Heavens and drove out all the gods residing there including their king, Lord Indra. All the resident gods and goddesses of Heaven visited the three main Powers of this Universe; Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar (another name for God Shiva) and lamented on their state of sorrow and the amount of torment put upon them by Mahishashura. Listening to this, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva were so enraged that the grief of the gods also transformed into immense anger over the deeds of Mahishashura. Out of this combined rage and anger of the 3 main gods and all other gods and godesses present there, developed an immense power and out came Goddess Durga as an incarnation of Shakti, the power behind everything in this Universe. All the gods and goddesses, started praying to her to save them from their plight and angusih which they are suffering at the hands of Mahishashura. All of them started to give her various means of self defence (weapons and carrier) and out came Goddess Durga, fully prepared to face the might of Mahishashura. Thus started one of the biggest fights between demons and gods, or evil and good, in the form of Mahishashura fighting Goddess Durga. As always, good prevails over the evil and Goddess Durga came out victorious in this fierce battle. She killed Mahishashura and reinstated the gods in their original abode in the heavens. She then told all the gods and goddesses to call her in their times of distress and she will respond immediately to alleviate their plights and misery. Thus it is a common belief among the Hindus, that Goddess Durga, being the reincarnation of Shakti or power, is always worshipped during times of hardship, conflicts and confrontation. The Hindus pray to Goddess Durga or one of her many incarnations, to overcome any adverse situations in life and they believe that with her blessings they can cross any hurdles.