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Durga Puja Customs are elaborate. The customs of Durga Puja begins right after mohaloya. It is considered to be an auspicious day. It is in this day that people perform the act of "tarpan", a process in which the lost souls of the family tree are worshipped. The Custom of Durga puja is incomplete without dhaki (the person who plays drums) and kashi. If a person ever visits west Bengal it must be in the fall during the festival of Durga puja. Near the "sealdah" and "howrah" stations a number of "dhakis" perform. It is from there that they are selected and taken to various "pandals". The Durga Puja Custom begins with "debi bodhon". It is a significant custom. The face of the idol remains covered before the ceremony of "bodhon". In the evening, the priest opens the cover of the face and brings her to life. It is then the festival commences.
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In the morning of "mahasasthi" the priest performs "aroti" and wakes goddess Durga up. The life which has been established in the idol is worshipped. The idol of Durga is decorated with garlands of flowers and sacred leaves named as "bel pata" (leaves of apple wood tree) in Bengali. The foods that are offered to Goddess Durga range from "fresh fruits", "kichuri", "labra", "payesh" and "chatni". The "kumari puja" is a significant part of Durga Puja Custom. It is in this particular sub-ceremony, a maiden is being worshipped. The "kumari puja" of "belur math" is very famous.
The main festivity begins from sandhi puja, the thresh hold time between the "mahaasthami" and "mahanobomi". It is during this time that hundred and eight lamps are enlightened. Vegetables and fruits are also sacrificed. A fruit like sugarcane is sacrificed and gourd and pumpkins are also offered. These fruits and vegetables must be divided at one single strike. If the instrument is unable to pass through the vegetable, then it is believed to be inauspicious.
Modhu porko is an important element of all Bengali pujas. It consists of a brass bowl, honey, holy water of the Ganges, cow dung, not pasteurized milk, ghee (milk crème) with tulsi leaves. The goddess is also offered clothing too.
The "pratima" or idol of goddess Durga is submerged in the holy waters of Ganges in the day of dosomi. The ritualistic viswarjan takes place in the day by reflecting the shadow of Goddess Durga in a bowl of water. In "dasami" the food offered to Durga are rice soaked in water for overnight (panta bhat) and "kochur shak" (a delicacy only the Bengalis, kochu asparagus). In the afternoon, the married women are supposed to worship goddess Durga and bid her adieu. The things required to bid farewell are "beetle leaves", beetle nuts", "three grass leaves", "dhana", "sweets" and "sindoor". After the boron or the ritual of farewell, the married women shower on each other vermillion. After the idol is submerged the Bengalis greet each other by the term "subho bijoya".
123 Durgapuja provides us all information on Durga Puja Customs world wide.
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