The actual worship of the Goddess Durga as stipulated by the Hindu scriptures falls in the month of Chaitra, which roughly overlaps with March or April. This ceremony is however not observed by many and is restricted to a handful in the state of West Bengal. The more popular form, which is also known as Sharadiya (Autumnal) Durga Puja, is celebrated later in the year with the dates falling either in September or October. Since the Goddess is invoked at the wrong time, it is called "Akaal Bodhon" in Bengali.

Public announcement by Shobhabazar Rajbati on the origins of Durga Puja.While the most recent revival of the Autumnal worship of Goddess Durga can be traced to revivalist tendencies in the early freedom movement in Bengal, differences remain in the historical reason behind the revival. One school of thought is of the opinion that the first such Puja was organised by Raja Nabakrishna Deb of the Shobhabazar Rajbari of Calcutta in honour of Lord Clive in the year 1757. The puja was organised because Clive wished to pay thanks for his victory in the Battle of Plassey. He was unable to do so in a Church because the only church in Calcutta at that time was destroyed by Siraj-ud-Daulah. Indeed many wealthy mercantile and Zamindar families in Bengal made British Officers of the East India Company guests of honour in the Pujas. The hosts vied with one another in arranging the most sumptuous fares, decorations and entertainment for their guests. This was deemed necessary since the Company was in charge of a large part of India including Bengal after the battles of Plassey and Buxar. However, this particular claim has been refuted by the Sovabazar Rajbari. In a public announcement during the Durga Puja of 2011, notice boards were placed at the entrance of the puja, clarifying the Rajbari's official position.

This is my 6x6 page for today's Hymn & Scripture Challenge. Our word and study this week are on the hymn "Take my Life and Let it Be." The scripture I used was:

Hebrews 12:14 "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."

I thought this verse was so perfect because if I am not consecrated to the Lord daily, then how will anyone see Him in me and come to know Christ? I used the washi tape as a reminder to me to live for Him daily. To see more photos and to read the entire study, please see my post here:

triplethescraps.blogspot.com/2012/10/hscrc12-hymn-14-take...

Thanks for looking. Blessings,

Papers: Memory Box mango distressed dots, Bo Bunny Country Garden

Stamp Ink: Tim Holtz black soot

Embellishments: Probe card, Making Memories tiny alpha, Distress Stickles walnut stain, Tim Holtz tiny attacher, Prima wood buttons, Paper Trey ink buttons, Basic Grey writer's block tag, May Arts black twine, misc. washi tape, sewing machine

The daily scripture debates in monasteries across Tibet must look something like this.

Sera Monastery, Tibet

amritsar, india

www.kerstin-horn.de

this scripture was in a skylight in the chapel at the eastern state penitentiary

"Be your sins like crimson, they can turn snow-white; Be they red as dyed wool, they can become like fleece"