Sindoor-Utsav (Khela) On the last day of Durga Puja, married women gather at the Puja pandals and smear each other with Sindur (vermillion) much like playing with colours in Holi. The color of vermillion eclipses the glow of other colors on Vijaya Dashami, when married women of the Bengali community indulge in Sindur Khela. . […]
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Sandhi Puja (Ram ki Shakti Aradhana) The most spectacular part of Durga Puja celebration, Sandhi Puja is performed at the sandhi-kaal (moment) when Maha Ashtami ends and Maha Navami begins. This ritualistic ceremony holds special significance because it is believed that the Goddess killed the Mahishasur (buffalo demon) at this time. Devi Durga engaged in […]
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Kumari Puja (Kanya Pujan) Kumari Puja is held wherever Ramakrishna Math & Mission is in the world. Swami Vivekananda, the founder of Belur Math, had initiated Kumari Puja in appreciation of Sri Ramakrishna’s devotion to Divine Mother and faith in Mother Worship. A similar activity with slight difference in the northern part of India is […]
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Banana Bride (Kola Bou) One of the first rituals of Durga Puja is the Kola-Bou Snan on Saptami morning. The day starts with the ritual where a banana plantain with eight other plants is tied with yellow threads and the twigs of the Aparajita plant. It is then bathed and draped in the Laal par […]
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