India Latest News: Durga Puja, one of the most revered Hindu festivals, is celebrated with great fervor across India, particularly in states like West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, and Tripura. In 2025, the festival will be observed from September 28th to October 2nd, with the main festivities beginning on Maha Panchami (September 27, 2025) and culminating on Vijaya Dashami (October 2, 2025).
Key Dates for Durga Puja 2025
- Mahalaya: September 21, 2025, marking the beginning of Durga Puja preparations
- Maha Panchami: September 27, 2025, start of main celebrations
- Maha Shashthi: September 28, 2025, unveiling of Goddess Durga idols
- Maha Saptami: September 29, 2025, first day of Durga Puja rituals
- Maha Ashtami: September 30, 2025, main day of worship and celebrations
- Maha Navami: October 1, 2025, final day of worship
- Vijaya Dashami: October 2, 2025, immersion of Durga idols
State Forms of Worship
Durga Puja is celebrated differently across various states in India:
- West Bengal: Known for grand celebrations, especially in Kolkata, with beautifully decorated pandals and cultural events. The “Sindoor Khela” ritual, where married women apply vermilion to each other and the idol of Maa Durga, is a significant tradition.
- Assam: Celebrated with traditional pujas, cultural programs, and local customs.
- Odisha: Observed with local customs, traditional dances, and music.
- Tripura: Durga Puja is a significant festival, with grand celebrations and cultural events.
- Bihar: People worship with devotion, observing traditional rituals and customs.
- Delhi: Big pandals are set up in areas like CR Park, showcasing grand celebrations.
- Maharashtra: Bengali communities celebrate Durga Puja with great enthusiasm.
Rituals and Significance
Durga Puja is a celebration of the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. The festival involves various rituals, including ¹ ² ³:
- Pandal Hopping: Visiting beautifully decorated pandals, showcasing unique themes and artistic decorations.
- Cultural Programs: Dance, music, drama, and recitations are performed, adding to the festive spirit.
- Food and Sweets: Traditional dishes like khichuri, luchi, and kosha mangsho are prepared, and sweets like rasgulla and sandesh are shared.
- Sindoor Khela: A ritual where married women apply vermilion to each other and the idol of Maa Durga, signifying marital bliss.
Nine Forms of Goddess Durga
During Navratri, nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped, each representing a different aspect of the goddess ⁴:
- Shailaputri: Daughter of the mountain, depicted with a trident and lotus flower.
- Brahmacharini: Female ascetic form, carrying a rosary bead and kamandalu.
- Chandraghanta: Ready for war, depicted with 10 hands and various weapons.
- Kushmanda: Creator of the universe, depicted with four arms and three eyes.
- Skandamata: Mother of Kartikeya, depicted carrying Kartikeya in her lap.
- Katyayani: Warrior form, mounted on a lion with 18 arms.
- Kalaratri: Destroyer of darkness, depicted mounted on a donkey.
- Mahagauri: Four-armed deity, carrying a trident and damru.
- Siddhidhatri: Provider of all Siddhis, depicted as an eight-armed deity.
As Durga Puja approaches, people come together to celebrate the festival with great enthusiasm, devotion, and cultural fervor. The festival is not just a celebration of the goddess but also a time for family reunions, cultural events, and traditional rituals.
Durga Puja Celebrations Across India
Durga Puja is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm across various states in India. Each state has its unique way of observing the festival, reflecting its cultural heritage and traditions.
- West Bengal: The state is known for its grand Durga Puja celebrations, especially in Kolkata. The city comes alive with beautifully decorated pandals, cultural events, and traditional rituals. The puja is a time for family reunions, feasting, and merriment.
- Assam: In Assam, Durga Puja is celebrated with traditional pujas, cultural programs, and local customs. The festival is an integral part of the state’s cultural heritage, and people come together to worship the goddess and celebrate the triumph of good over evil.
- Odisha: In Odisha, Durga Puja is observed with local customs, traditional dances, and music. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm, and people gather to worship the goddess and participate in cultural events.
- Tripura: Durga Puja is a significant festival in Tripura, and it is celebrated with grand festivities and cultural events. The state’s Bengali population observes the festival with great enthusiasm, and it is a time for family reunions and traditional rituals.
- Bihar: In Bihar, people worship with devotion, observing traditional rituals and customs. The festival is an important part of the state’s cultural heritage, and people come together to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.
- Delhi: In Delhi, big pandals are set up in areas like CR Park, showcasing grand celebrations. The city’s Bengali population observes the festival with great enthusiasm, and it is a time for cultural events, traditional rituals, and family reunions.
- Maharashtra: In Maharashtra, Bengali communities celebrate Durga Puja with great enthusiasm. The festival is observed with traditional rituals, cultural events, and family reunions.
- Manipur: In Manipur, Durga Puja is celebrated with great fervor at the Hijang Thang Lairembi Temple in Imphal. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Hijang Thang Lairembi, a form of Goddess Durga, and the festival is observed with traditional rituals, cultural events, and devotees gather to worship the goddess.
Cultural Significance of Durga Puja
Durga Puja is not just a festival; it is a celebration of the goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura. The festival has significant cultural importance, and it is observed with great enthusiasm across India. The puja is a time for:
- Family Reunions: Durga Puja is a time for family reunions, and people come together to celebrate the festival with their loved ones.
- Cultural Events: The festival is celebrated with cultural events like dance, music, drama, and recitations. These events showcase the rich cultural heritage of India and add to the festive spirit.
- Traditional Rituals: Durga Puja is observed with traditional rituals like puja ceremonies, idol immersion, and sindoor khela. These rituals are an integral part of the festival and are observed with great devotion.
- Food and Sweets: Traditional dishes like khichuri, luchi, and kosha mangsho are prepared during Durga Puja. Sweets like rasgulla and sandesh are also an integral part of the festival.
Environmental Impact of Durga Puja
While Durga Puja is a significant festival, it also has an environmental impact. The idol immersion in rivers and lakes can lead to pollution, and the use of non-biodegradable materials can harm the environment. To mitigate this impact, many puja committees are now using eco-friendly idols and materials.
Conclusion
Durga Puja is a significant festival in India, and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm across various states. The festival has cultural importance and is observed with traditional rituals, cultural events, and family reunions. While the festival has an environmental impact, many puja committees are now taking steps to mitigate this impact. As Durga Puja approaches, people come together to celebrate the festival with great devotion and enthusiasm.