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Once a year, in the autumnal month of Ashwin, Goddess Durga comes home to her parents, together with her four children, Ganesh, Laxmi, Karttik and Saraswati, and enjoys all the love and attention lavished on her. Unfortunately, this visit lasts only three days, and on the fourth day she starts on her journey back to her husband's abode in the mountain kingdom of Kailash.Durga - Goddess of deliverance - comes to earth on the seventh day after the autumn new moon. She is depicted by the 'kumors' or potters as a resplendent golden figure standing on a lion's back, each of her ten arms bearing a particular weapon, as she triumphs over the demon Mahisasura.
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In Sanskrit Durga means " She who is incomprehensible or difficult to reach ." Goddess Durga is a form of Shakti worshipped for her gracious as well as terrifying aspect. Mother of the Universe, she represents the infinite power of the universe and is a symbol of a female dynamism.
Durga, a beautiful warrior seated upon a tiger, was the first appearance of the great goddess. Also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Ambika, and Kali. Destroyer of demons, she is worshipped during Durga puja, most popular among Bengalis.
Durga is worshipped in various other forms also. She is
Uma, "light";
Gauri , "yellow or brilliant";
Parvati, "the mountaineer";
Jagatmata , "the-mother-of-the-world"
Durga "the inaccessible";
Kali , "the black";
Chandi , "the fierce";
Bhairavi , "the terrible."
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