Durga Puja in Kolkata
Durga Puja is the biggest festival of the Bengalis and is celebrated with
full zest and fervour in Bengal. It is no longer a religious festival, it is
now a great social festival. Visitors can see that during the festival,
Bengalis socialize in a great way. They can be seen preparing for this great
event a month or two in advance and can be seen busy for welcoming
relatives, friends, purchasing clothes, gifts, preparing sweets and giving
new look to their homes. Puja pandals are the main attractions during the
festival and can be seen at every street corner.The exquisite pandals made
in a grand manner depict the architectural splendors, leaving the viewers
awe-struck. The light work in the pandals are also superb. The idols of
Goddess Durga, Kartick, Ganesh, Saraswati, Lakshmi and Mahisasur in the
pandals are marvelous and attract visitors in large numbers. The festival
starts with the Mahalaya. With the inauguration on Mahashasthi, the main
puja is observed for three days i.e.-Mahasaptmi, Mahaastami, Mahanavami
followed by mantras, shlokas and aarti. In the last day, in dashami farewell
is offered to the Goddess and images are carried in processions and finally
is immersed in nearby river or lake.
Durga Puja in Kullu
Kullu
Dussehra is celebrated every year in October in the Kullu Valley in Himachal
Pradesh. This seven- day festival begins in a grand style on Vijaydashmi.
Colorful processions of village dieties from all parts of the valley are
brought to Kullu to pay homage to Lord Ragunath. On the first day the idol
of Lord Raghunath is placed in the elegant chariot along with the village
dieties in decorated palanquins. The chariot is then pulled from Dhalpur
Maidan by the huge crowds, with the help of ropes to another spot where it
stays for next six days. Pulling the ropes is considered sacred by the local
people. On the last day the chariot of Lord Raghunath is taken to the banks
of river Beas, where a pile of wood and grass is set to fire which
symbolises the burning of Lanka. After that the chariot is taken back to its
original place. The weak long festival ends with the sacrifice of a buffalo
and a lamb. During the seven days one can see the public busy in shopping,
singing, dancing and enjoying the festival.
Durga Puja in Mysore
Mysore Dussehra is a 10-day-long festival and is celebrated in the honour
of Goddess Chamudeswari who killed Mahishasur. Being the family diety of the
royal house of Mysore, her idol is taken in procession. Decorated elephant
procession carrying the idol of goddess Chamundi pulls in tourists in large
numbers to Mysore. The festival is followed by several cultural programmes
in the Durbar hall of the Maharaja's Palace. One can also see the floating
festival in the temple tank at the foot of Chamundi hill and Rath Yatra
around the Chamudeswari temple. A torch light parade is the major attraction
of this 10-day festival.
