Maa Durga is arriving! Are you ready, Ranchites?
Maa Durga is arriving! Are you ready, Ranchites?
Maa Durga will be arriving in Her full glory, yet again, this year, on the 10th of October. On the 8th of October, She will be called to Her home. The invocation day is called ‘Mahalaya’. Mahalaya is on the Amavasya day, in the month of Ashvin.
On the 8th of October, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar will be waking up at 4, in the morning, for Mahalaya, which is the invocation sung, for Goddess Durga, where ‘She’ is called to ‘Her’ home, the Earth. Durgotsava/Shardotsava is celebrated in the month of Ashvin, as the homecoming of Maa Durga.
The festival starts on Mahalaya when the invocation starts. On Mahalaya, the day starts at 4, in the morning. To listen to the ‘Mahishasurmardini’ is considered auspicious and is the invocation. She had killed Mahishasur, a devil; hence Her name ‘Mahishasurmardini’. Her 9 ‘avatars’ are worshipped, in these 10 days, where the 10th day is Dussehra.
The 1st day is Pratipada, and ‘Shailputri’ is worshipped on the first day. On the subsequent days, ‘Bramhacharini’, ‘Chandraghanta’, ‘Kushmanda’ and ‘Skandmata’ are worshipped. On the 6th day, the glorious face of Maa Durga is unveiled. Then starts pandal hopping. On the Mahashashti, ‘Katyayani’, on Saptami, ‘Kaalraatri’, are worshipped.
Shiuli and hibiscus, with an up-kit, symbolic of married women, which consists of chunri, bangles, bindi, Vermillion, nail polish, aalta and mirror for Maa Durga are offered on the Shashti and Saptami, along with some sweets. On the Maha-Ashtami, ‘Maha Gauri’ is worshipped. The weapons of Maa Durga are worshipped on this day, hence it is considered to be a powerful day. ‘Kanya puja’ is done on the 9th day, symbolic of 9 avatars of Maa Durga. Most of the worshippers, observe fast on the 8th day. Navami is the last day of the worship of the avatars. On the Navami, ‘Siddhidatri’ is worshipped. People who recite the ‘Durga Saptshati’, end their recitation by ‘havan’ on the 9th day.
On the 10th day, i.e. Dussehra, we bid farewell to Maa Durga, by immersing Her idols into water bodies.
Bakri Bazaar, Kokar, Satellite Colony-Hinoo, Ratu Road, Morabadi, Ranchi Lake-Seva Sadan, Station Road, Kutchery Road, Baandhgaadi, Bariatu Housing Colony, Doctor’s Colony-Bariatu, Booty More, Tharpakhna, Kaali Baari, Durga Baari, to name a few, set up pandals for worshippers to visit. Pandals are usually a replica of temple or monuments, in India. Durga baari and Kaali baari are amongst those, where a traditional Bengali idol is set up. A traditional Bengali culture can be seen there. They hold events, where kids showcase their talents. The ‘Dhunuchi’ dance is beautifully done by the people of the Bengali community.
There is one more story of a victory that is celebrated on the Dussehra. It is believed that Lord Ram killed Raavan on the day of Dussehra. So, symbolic of this victory, the statues of Raavan, his son, Meghnad, and brother, Kumbhkaran are put to fire. In Ranchi, this is done in Morabadi, in Morabadi Ground. People gather in a large number, to witness the evil being burnt.