Durga Puja
| Durga Puja | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Durgotsava, Sharadotsava |
| Status | Public holiday in Indian states of West Bengal, Odisha,Tripura, Bihar, Assam and the country Bangladesh and Nepal[1] Optional holiday in Pakistan |
| Genre | Religious and cultural festival |
| Date(s) | 28 September to 2 October 2025 (Dates vary annually per the Hindu lunisolar calendar.) |
| Begins | Mahalaya |
| Ends | Vijaya Dashami |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Founders | Rama, according to the legends |
| Participants | Mainly Eastern, Northeast India[2] and Hindus in Bangladesh[3] and Nepal[4][5][6][7] |
| Major events | Worshipping Hindu deities, family and other social gatherings, shopping and gift-giving, feasting, pandal visiting, and cultural events |
| Main observation | Ceremonial worship of Goddess Durga |
| Explanatory note on Hindu festival dates | |
|---|---|
The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. A lunar day is uniquely identified by three calendar elements: māsa (lunar month), pakṣa (lunar fortnight) and tithi (lunar day).
Furthermore, when specifying the masa, one of two traditions are applicable, viz. amānta / pūrṇimānta. If a festival falls in the waning phase of the moon, these two traditions identify the same lunar day as falling in two different (but successive) masa. A lunar year is shorter than a solar year by about eleven days. As a result, most Hindu festivals occur on different days in successive years on the Gregorian calendar. | |
| Part of a series on |
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| Hinduism portal |
Durga Puja (ISO: Durgā Pūjā, Bengali pronunciation: [d̪uɾɡapud͡ʒa] ⓘ), also known as Durgotsava or Sharadotsava, is a major Hindu festival honouring the goddess Durga and commemorating her victory over Mahishasura.[8][9] In 2021, 'Durga Puja in Kolkata' was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.[10]
The festival is observed in the Indian calendar in the month of Ashvin (September -October) on the Hindu lunisolar calendar.[11][12] It lasts ten days, with the final five being most prominent. [13][12] Even though Durga Puja and Navaratri are observed simultaneously dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga, but they are not the same festival.[14]
The puja is performed in homes and public spaces with temporary structures (known as pandals), religious recitations, cultural performances, visiting, feasting, and processions; it is central to the Shaktism tradition.[8][15][16]
Scriptures portray Durga’s defeat of Mahishasura, often interpreted as the triumph of good over evil; some traditions also link the festival with post-monsoon harvest themes.[17][18][19] Durga Puja coincides with Navaratri and Dussehra celebrations observed by other traditions of Hinduism.[20][21][22]
Alongside Durga, devotees commonly venerate Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya. Major public celebrations run from Mahalaya to Vijayadashami and conclude with immersion of the images; practices vary by region.
Durga Puja is an old tradition with medieval textual references and detailed manuals from at least the 14th century; elite and community forms expanded under early modern and colonial patronage.[23][9]
- ^ "Nepal Public Holidays". Edarabia.com. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- ^ "Celebrating Durga puja across India: Top destinations for festive bliss". Business Insider India.
- ^ "Durga festival returns to indigenous village after 150 years". Dhaka Tribune. 17 October 2015.
- ^ "The Festive Season in Nepal Has Begun. One Month of Holidays- Durga Puja and Dipawali". 21 September 2017.
- ^ Campbell, R.J.; Little, V. (1989). Humanities in the Primary School. Falmer Press. p. 182. ISBN 978-1-8500-0544-5. LCCN 89036052.
- ^ Ghosh, J. (2019). General Knowledge of Northeast India: For All Psc and Competitive Exams. Educreation Publishing. p. 152.
- ^ Rahman, M. (2018). The Political History of Muslim Bengal: An Unfinished Battle of Faith. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 240. ISBN 978-1-5275-2061-5.
- ^ a b Lochtefeld 2002, p. 208.
- ^ a b Bradley 2012, p. 214.
- ^ "Durga Puja inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity". Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Kinsley 1988, pp. 106–108.
- ^ a b Encyclopedia Britannica 2015.
- ^ Parmita Borah (2 October 2011). "Durga Puja – a Celebration of Female Supremacy". EF News International. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Navratri And Durga Puja: Understanding The Differences Between The Two Festivals". Times Now. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Melton 2011, pp. 239–241.
- ^ Amazzone 2011, pp. 82–83.
- ^ Daniélou 1991, p. 288.
- ^ Kinsley 1988, pp. 111–112.
- ^ Donner 2016, p. 25.
- ^ "Durga Puja (Durga Ashtami) 2020: Is Maa Durga Worthy to Worship?". S A NEWS. 24 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ Lochtefeld 2002, pp. 212–213.
- ^ Jones & Ryan 2006, pp. 308–309.
- ^ "Durga Puja". Assam Online Portal. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012.