Durga Puja, which is also known as Sharadotsav or Durgotsav, is celebrated all over India and is the most important festival in West Bengal.
This year, the festival will be celebrated from October 4 to October 8. (Photo: Getty Images)
Durga Puja 2019: Bengalis across the globe wait all year for these five days of festivities. It goes without saying, the first thing they check out when the new year dawns are the Durga Puja dates. This year, the festival will be celebrated from October 4 to October 8.
28 September, Saturday: Mahalaya
3 October, Thursday: Maha Panchami
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4 October, Friday: Maha Shasthi
5 October, Saturday: Maha Saptami
6 October, Sunday: Maha Ashtami
7 October, Monday: Maha Navami
8 October, Tuesday: Vijaya Dashami
Mahalaya marks the beginning of the annual Durga Puja festival for Bengalis. On this day, Goddess Durga is believed to descend on Earth, her ‘paternal home’, every year.
Mahalaya occurs on an Amavasya, the last day of the dark fortnight (Krishnapaksha) in the month of Ashvin, according to the Hindu lunar calendar. Devipaksha begins the next day heralding the ten-day festival of Durga Puja.
Though the rituals of Durga Puja start with Mahalaya, the main festival begins on Mahashasthi, the sixth day of Debipaksha.
Celebrated over five days in late September or early October, Durga Puja marks the triumph of good over evil symbolised by the slaying of demon Mahisasura by the Goddess.
According to Hindu mythology, Mahisasura had obtained a boon of invincibility from Lord Brahma, which meant no man or God could kill him. Taking advantage of the boon, he started harassing everyone and chased the Gods out of heaven. Thereafter, Goddess Durga was created by all the gods to defeat Mahisasura.
Duega slew the demon on the Dashami, and hence the day is celebrated as Vijaya Dashami, symbolising the victory of good over evil.
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