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Come the season of autumn and the Indians can be viewed playing amongst the colors of festivities and traditions. We Indians have a tremendous lineage of celebrations, rituals, devotion (bhakti) and colorful festivities. Few other festivals around Durga Puja are Diwali, Navaratri, Dusshera, Kali Puja, and Bhai Phota. Each of these festivals is celebrated with passion and jest, thereby creating a beautiful aura and merry atmosphere. These festivals are very important in the Hindu society and the Indian subcontinent. They are not only a way or method to honor the Gods and Goddess but also a way to unite in the bond of love and festivity.
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The tradition of Poojas and homas (Sacred fire ritual) can be traced back to ancient India, wherein the priests (pandits) invoked the Gods and Goddesses. The festivals we celebrate today are a rendition of these age-old traditions. In ancient India, the season of autumn or ‘shorot’ {mid august to October} was considered very auspicious and several pujas were held. There are various accounts of pujas held during this time in the ancient scriptures. The tradition has continued ever since.
Diwali and Durga Puja are the most important festivals during this time. Durga Puja, starts from Mahalaya and ends on Vijaya Dashami, a ten day long odyssey of Maa Durga to destroy the evil. The main festival is held from Maha Shasthi (sixth day). Dusshera is the most revered day amongst the Hindus. It is the day when Lord Rama kills Ravana, the epitome of devil. Similarly, Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated on Lord Rama’s return from fourteen years of exile in forest. It is a highly auspicious day in the Hindu calendar.
Kali Puja (celebrated mainly by the Bengalis, Assamese and Oriyas) is celebrated on the day of Diwali. It is the Puja of Maa Kali, wrathful and fearful Goddess. Maa Kali, a consort of Lord Shiva and an incarnation of Devi Durga (according to Mundaka Upanishad), is a dark Goddess who is terrible, vicious and slayer of demons. She is both the creator (has beautiful maternal instincts) and destroyer of the world. She is supposed to the most fearful and highest amongst all deities. Bhai Phota is celebrated a few days after Kali Puja. This occasion is a beautiful way to commemorate the brother sister bond and is very similar to Raksha Bandhan.
It is wonderful to see how all these festivals are interrelated and are celebrated at almost the same time. For example, Durga Puja collides with Navratris, Dusshera with Vijaya Dashami, and Kali puja with Diwali. The fact that is more fantastic and fabulous is the stories behind them. On a slightly finer inspection, we can easily spot of tons of similarities in these legends. All the religions claim that they celebrate different Pujas of various Gods and Goddesses. But any careful reader would easily comprehend the fact that different religions and communities are celebrating and honoring the same deities. Over the centuries, human civilization has undergone several lashes, which has resulted in different religions, communities and cultures. It is nice too see that despite so many culture differences, we are unified with our major identities of being an Indian and human beings. These Gods and Goddesses and the different pujas, in reality are different renditions of the same Puja held by our forefathers.
To read more about these Pujas, click on the corresponding links or visit 123durgapuja.com.
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