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Greetings on Mahashaptami - the second day of Durgotsav !
Durga Puja, a five day festival is widely celebrated in India and is the biggest festival of the year. Not only is it the biggest Hindu festival celebrated, it is also the most significant socio-cultural event in Bengali Hindu society. Apart from India, Durga Puja is also celebrated in Nepal, Bangladesh United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Singapore and Kuwait.
Durga Puja festival marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. Thus, Durga Puja festival epitomises the victory of Good over Evil ....From Wikipedia.
Experience Durga Puja in Kolkata........ An Experience of A Lifetime! September 30-October 4, 2014
Durga Puja - the ceremonial worship of the mother goddess, is one of the most important festivals, is celebrated every year in the month of October with much gaiety and grandeur in India and abroad, especially in Bengal, where the ten-armed goddess riding the lion and killing the Buffalo-Demon (Mahishasura) is worshipped with great passion and devotion.
The traditional icon of the goddess worshiped during the Durga Puja is in line with the iconography delineated in the scriptures. In Durga, the Gods bestowed their powers to co-create a beautiful goddess with ten arms, each carrying their most lethal weapon. The tableau of Durga also features her four children - Kartikeya, Ganesha, Saraswati and Lakshmi.
More, hinduism.about.com/od/durgapuja/a/durga_puja_history.htm
The huge temporary canopies - held by a framework of bamboo poles and draped with colourful fabric - that house the icons are called 'pandals'. Modern pandals in Kolkata are innovative, artistic and decorative at the same time, offering a visual spectacle for the numerous visitors who go 'pandal-hopping' during the four days of Durga Puja.
Durga Puja@Kolkata 2012 - Chaltabagan Lohapatty
Images of Bengal, India
For five days a year, the eastern Indian metropolis of Kolkata takes on a Nocturnal flavor.
While the city celebrates a variety of "Pujos", none is Grander than the Durga Puja, which coincides with the second half of Navratri and culminates in the Grand Celebration of Vijaya Dashami - also know as Dusshera in other parts of the country.
Every locality, every sub locality organizes its on "Puja" , with its own uniquely themed "Pandals" and lightning arrangements.
The entire city comes alive in the evening with a festive atmosphere and millions of people hopping from "Pandal" to "Pandal" admiring the workmanship and design of each of these unique creations. People go "Pandal" hopping from early in the evening till early hours of the morning the following day with their friends and family, helping themselves to a myriad of street food along the way, which is also one of Kolkata's specialties.
Five days of festivities culminate in the Vijaya Dashami celebrations and immersion of the Durga idols in the holy Hooghly river.
Being in Kolkata during the Durga Puja is an experience bar none -- one which I have been lucky to witness countless time since my childhood days int he city.
This time, I headed home to capture some of that spirit through my camera and lenses.
Durga Puja was celebrated last week across India ... most revered festivity for Bengali Hindus ...
BKC_0259a
Date Shot: 20-10-2012
Nikon D800
Nikon 105mm 2.5 AI-s
f/4, 1/160s
Aperture Priority
Matrix Metering
ISO 2000
Durga Puja, also referred to as Durgotsava or Sharadotsav is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga
Experience Durga Puja in Kolkata........ An Experience of A Lifetime! September 30-October 4, 2014
Durga Puja - the ceremonial worship of the mother goddess, is one of the most important festivals, is celebrated every year in the month of October with much gaiety and grandeur in India and abroad, especially in Bengal, where the ten-armed goddess riding the lion and killing the Buffalo-Demon (Mahishasura) is worshipped with great passion and devotion.
The traditional icon of the goddess worshiped during the Durga Puja is in line with the iconography delineated in the scriptures. In Durga, the Gods bestowed their powers to co-create a beautiful goddess with ten arms, each carrying their most lethal weapon. The tableau of Durga also features her four children - Kartikeya, Ganesha, Saraswati and Lakshmi.
More, hinduism.about.com/od/durgapuja/a/durga_puja_history.htm
The huge temporary canopies - held by a framework of bamboo poles and draped with colourful fabric - that house the icons are called 'pandals'. Modern pandals in Kolkata are innovative, artistic and decorative at the same time, offering a visual spectacle for the numerous visitors who go 'pandal-hopping' during the four days of Durga Puja.
Durga Puja@Kolkata 2012 - Lake Town Adibasibrindo
Images of Bengal, India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chhath (Devanagari: छठ, छठी, छठ पर्व, छठ पुजा, डाला छठ, डाला पुजा, सुर्य षष्ठी) is an ancient Hindu festival and only Vedic Festival dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya and Chhathi Maiya (ancient Vedic Goddess Usha).[5] The Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank Surya for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes.[6]
The Sun, considered as the god of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders.
The rituals of the festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days. They include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water (Vratta), standing in water for long periods of time, and offering prashad (prayer offerings) and arghya to the setting and rising sun.
Although the festival is observed most elaborately in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern UP and the Terai regions of Nepal in modern times, and is more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence, It is celebrated in all regions and major urban centers in India. The festival is celebrated in the regions including but not exclusive to the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat,[7] Delhi,[8] Mumbai[9] Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, and Jamaica. [10]
Date of the festival[edit]
Chhath puja is performed on Kartika Shukla Shashthi, which is the sixth day of the month of Kartika in the Nepali calendar. This falls typically in the month of October or November in the Gregorian English Calendar. The exact date of the festival is decided by Central division of Janakpurdham in Nepal which is applicable all over the world.
It is also celebrated in the summer (March–April), on Chaitra Shashthi, some days after Holi; this event is called Chaiti Chhath.[11] The former is more popular because winter is the usual festive season in Nepal and also in North India. Chhath, being an arduous observance, requiring the worshipers to fast without water for around 36 hours continuously, is easier to undertake in the Indian winters but little harder in Nepalese Winter for Nepali Hindus due to cold climate in Terai of Nepal.
Etymology[edit]
The word chhath denotes the number six in Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Hindi and local dialects and the festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month Kārtika of the Hindu lunar calender. The word is a Prakrit derivation from the Sanskrit ṣaṣṭhi, meaning sixth.
History[edit]
It is believed that the ritual of Chhath puja may even predate the ancient Vedas texts, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshiping the Sun god and describes similar rituals. The rituals also find reference in the Sanskrit epic poem Mahābhārata in which Draupadi is depicted as observing similar rites.
In the poem, Draupadi and the Pandavas, rulers of Indraprastha(modern Delhi), performed the Chhath ritual on the advice of noble sage Dhaumya. Through her worship of the Sun God, Draupadi was not only able to solve her immediate problems, but also helped the Pandavas later regain their lost kingdom.
Its yogic/scientific history dates back to the Vedic times. The rishis of yore used this method to remain without any external intake of food as they were able to obtain energy directly from the sun's rays. This was done through the Chhath method.[12]
Chhathi Maiya[edit]
The Goddess that is worshipped during the famous Chhath Puja is known as Chhathi Maiya. Chhathi Maiya is known as Usha in the Vedas. She is believed to be the consort of Surya, the sun god. Some scholars are of the view that she is only the beloved of Surya and some suggest that she is Surya’s wife.
Usha is the term used to refer to dawn – The first light of day. But in the Rig Veda she has more symbolic meaning. Symbolically Usha is the dawn of divine consciousness in the individual aspirant. It is said - Usha and Pratyusha, wives of Sun are the main source of Sun. Both Usha and Pratyusha are worshiped along with Sun in chhath parva. Usha (literally-the first morning sun-ray) is worshipped on the last day and Pratyusha(the last sun-ray of day) is worshipped in the evening by offering water or milk to the rising and setting sun respectively.
During the Chhath Puja, Chhathi Maiya is invoked to bless us with this divine consciousness which will help us to overcome all the troubles in the world – this bless will help us to Moksha or liberation.
Rituals and traditions[edit]
Chhath is a festival of bathing and worshipping,that follows a period of abstinence and segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshiper observes purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket.This is the only holy festival which has no involvement of any pandit (priest).The devotees offer their prayers to the setting sun, and then the rising sun in celebrating its glory as the cycle of birth starts with death. It is seen as the most glorious form of Sun worship.
Nahay khay[edit]
On the first day of Chhath Puja, the devotees take a dip, preferably in the river Kosi river, Karnali and Ganga and carry home the holy water of these historical rivers to prepare the offerings. The house and surroundings are scrupulously cleaned. The ladies observing the Vrata called vratin allow themselves only one meal on this day.
Lohanda and Kharna[edit]
On the second day of Chhath Puja, the day before Chhath, the Vratins observe a fast for the whole day, which ends in the evening a little after sunset. Just after the worship of Sun and moon, the offerings of Kheer (rice delicacy), puris (deep-fried puffs of wheat flour) and bananas, are distributed among family and friends. The Vratins go on a fast without water for 36 hours after 2nd day evening prashad (kheer).
Sandhya Arghya (evening offerings)[edit]
This day is spent preparing the prasad (offerings)at home. On the eve of this day, the entire household accompanies the Vratins to a riverbank, pond or a common large water body to make the offerings (Arghya) to the setting sun. It is during this phase of Chhath Puja that the devotees offer prayers to the just setting sun. The occasion is almost a carnival. Besides the Vratins, there are friends and family, and numerous participants and onlookers, all willing to help and receive the blessings of the worshipper. The folk songs sung on the evening of Chhath.
Usha Arghya (morning offerings)[edit]
On the final day of Chhath Puja, the devotees, along with family and friends, go to the riverbank before sunrise, in order to make the offerings (Arghya) to the rising sun. The festival ends with the breaking of the fast by the Vratins. Friends, Relatives visit the houses of the devotees to receive the prashad.
The main worshipers, called Parvaitin (from Sanskrit parv, meaning 'occasion' or 'festival'), are usually women. However, a large number of men also observe this festival. The parvaitin pray for the well-being of their family, and for the prosperity of their offsprings. Once a family starts performing Chhatt Puja, it is their duty to perform it every year and to pass it on to the following generations. The festival is skipped only if there happens to be a death in the family that year.
The prasad offerings include sweets, Kheer, Thekua and fruit offered in small bamboo soop winnows. The food is strictly vegetarian and it is cooked without salt, onions or garlic. Emphasis is put on maintaining the purity of the food.[13]
Pilgrims doing Puja in the Ganges in Varanasi, India
Varanasi is a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh dating to the 11th century B.C. Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along the city's winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
A far twist from my barn and farm scenes this holy scene is actually taken in rural Iowa. In the small community of Madrid lies a Hindu Temple.
Puja - is the act of showing reverence to a god, a spirit, or another aspect of the divine through invocations, prayers, songs, and rituals. An essential part of puja for the Hindu devotee is making a spiritual connection with the divine. Most often that contact is facilitated through an object: an element of nature, a sculpture, a vessel, a painting, or a print.
During puja an image or other symbol of the god serves as a means of gaining access to the divine. This icon is not the deity itself; rather, it is believed to be filled with the deity's cosmic energy. It is a focal point for honoring and communicating with the god. For the devout Hindu, the icon's artistic merit is important, but is secondary to its spiritual content. The objects are created as receptacles for spiritual energy that allow the devotee to experience direct communication with his or her gods
Experience Durga Puja in Kolkata........ An Experience of A Lifetime! September 30-October 4, 2014
Durga Puja - the ceremonial worship of the mother goddess, is one of the most important festivals, is celebrated every year in the month of October with much gaiety and grandeur in India and abroad, especially in Bengal, where the ten-armed goddess riding the lion and killing the Buffalo-Demon (Mahishasura) is worshipped with great passion and devotion.
The traditional icon of the goddess worshiped during the Durga Puja is in line with the iconography delineated in the scriptures. In Durga, the Gods bestowed their powers to co-create a beautiful goddess with ten arms, each carrying their most lethal weapon. The tableau of Durga also features her four children - Kartikeya, Ganesha, Saraswati and Lakshmi.
More, hinduism.about.com/od/durgapuja/a/durga_puja_history.htm
The huge temporary canopies - held by a framework of bamboo poles and draped with colourful fabric - that house the icons are called 'pandals'. Modern pandals in Kolkata are innovative, artistic and decorative at the same time, offering a visual spectacle for the numerous visitors who go 'pandal-hopping' during the four days of Durga Puja.
Durga Puja@Kolkata 2012 - Agradoot Uday Sangha, Bhawnipur
Images of Bengal, India
The Satyanarayan Puja is a Hindu (Devanāgarī: हिन्दु) religious observance.
The Satyanarayan Puja(prayer) is performed in reverence to the Narayan form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth(Satya). This puja is conducted to ensure abundance in ones life. Many people carry out this puja immediately after or along with an auspicious occasion like a marriage or moving into a new house or any other success in life.
The Satyanarayan puja can be performed on any day. It is not a puja confined to any festivities. But Poornima (full moon day) or Sankranti are considered to be most auspicious day for this puja.
Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well.
- Wikipedia
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Durga Puja (Bengali: দুর্গা পূজা,Bengali pronunciation: [d̪urɡa pudʒa]; listen: Durga Puja (help·info), ‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava (Bengali: দুর্গোৎসব Bengali pronunciation: [d̪urɡot̪ʃɔb], listen: Durgotsava (help·info), ‘Festival of Durga’) or Sharadotsav is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijayadashami. The dates of Durga Puja celebrations are set according to the traditional Hindu calendar and the fortnight corresponding to the festival is called Devi Paksha, ‘Fortnight of the Goddess’). Devi Paksha is preceded by Mahalaya, the last day of the previous fortnight Pitri Paksha, ‘Fortnight of the Forefathers’), and is ended on Kojagori Lokkhi Puja (‘Worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagori Full Moon Night’).
Durga Puja festival marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. Thus, Durga Puja festival epitomises the victory of Good over Evil
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For five days a year, the eastern Indian metropolis of Kolkata takes on a Nocturnal flavor.
While the city celebrates a variety of "Pujos", none is Grander than the Durga Puja, which coincides with the second half of Navratri and culminates in the Grand Celebration of Vijaya Dashami - also know as Dusshera in other parts of the country.
Every locality, every sub locality organizes its on "Puja" , with its own uniquely themed "Pandals" and lightning arrangements.
The entire city comes alive in the evening with a festive atmosphere and millions of people hopping from "Pandal" to "Pandal" admiring the workmanship and design of each of these unique creations. People go "Pandal" hopping from early in the evening till early hours of the morning the following day with their friends and family, helping themselves to a myriad of street food along the way, which is also one of Kolkata's specialties.
Five days of festivities culminate in the Vijaya Dashami celebrations and immersion of the Durga idols in the holy Hooghly river.
Being in Kolkata during the Durga Puja is an experience bar none -- one which I have been lucky to witness countless time since my childhood days int he city.
This time, I headed home to capture some of that spirit through my camera and lenses.
Pūjā is a religious ritual that Hindus perform on a variety of occasions to pray or show respect to God (or gods). The worship consists of offering various articles to the object of worship, such as water, flowers and vegetarian food, and usually includes lighting a incense.
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Puja
Temple of the Sun
Modhera, Gujurat, India
Copyright © 2007 David Pohl
HOP | House of Pingting Archives
“Durga Puja” (worship of Durga) is the greatest festival in Eastern India. It is the celebration of good over evil. It is four days celebration. Apart from many public “pujas” (organized by clubs) there are so many private “pujas” which are conducted in old houses.
Here is a 200 years old palace in North Calcutta where “Durga Puja” is being celebrated with same tradition like past.
Durga Puja - the ceremonial worship of the mother goddess, is one of the most important festivals of India. Apart from being a religious festival for the Hindus..
As we approach Losar (Tibetan New Year) the Gyuto monks will perform a puja called Chasum which removes the obstacles of the old year. Traditionally, this puja takes place at the end of the year on the 29th of the lunar calendar. During the puja we visualize that all the negativities of body, speech and mind are being removed by our prayers. We then rejoice and dedicate all our prayers for the benefit of all living beings.
An artist is busy in making of goddess “Durga” in an old residence.
“Durga Puja” an annual Hindu festival in Bengal province of India that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess “Durga. Here ‘Puja’ means worship. Today, the festival is celebrated mainly through public ‘Pujas’ organized by clubs. But the origin of this festival is household or private pujas.
Although “Durga Puja” has its own history from ancient India but the culture of wealthy celebration of Puja started during the time of the British. At that time in Bengal, there was a class consisting of the rich landed gentry, patrons of British Government and rich merchants who initiated Durga Puja in Bengal. Actually Durga Puja is such a grand task and a matter of heavy expenses and includes many ingredients, like water from seven seas and many other rare things to offer to the goddess.. These ingredients were impossible for ordinary people to procure at that point of time. At that time, the pujas were the status symbol of those rich families .Only the rich could get those easily. Moreover, organizing Durga Puja also gave a family social prominence. It is also known that Durga Puja used to be a private affair, only confined to the family concerned and ordinary people were barred from attending those. Some families also invited erstwhile high British officials and even the Viceroy of British India in the Puja
The household Pujas of the rich families of pre-independence India are still being done traditionally in Kolkata as well as in whole Bengal. One of those famous private puja is the ‘Puja of Sovabazar Royal Palace’.
Nabakrishna Deb, the founder of the Sovabazar Royal family, was instrumental in a plot against Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula, the last Nawab (King) of Bengal. He started Durga Puja in the newly constructed Sobhabazar Royal Palace in 1757 and invited Lord Robert Clive (who made the foundation of British in India) and other prestigious Englishmen of that time. In the year 1757 after the Battle of Plassey, Durga Puja was initiated by him. The British secured their position in India after victory in Battle of Plassey against Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula in 1757. In the same year, Nabakrishna Deb started his Puja. Probably, This puja is the oldest puja in Kolkata. Apart from this, there are many other private pujas in Kolkata that carry rich legacy & history.
(The above shot is dedicated to someone who is my inspiration to search history)
Amazing dancers at the Kali Puja. They convey the most intense emotions with their dancing. Very hard to shoot though without a flash.
For five days a year, the eastern Indian metropolis of Kolkata takes on a Nocturnal flavor.
While the city celebrates a variety of "Pujos", none is Grander than the Durga Puja, which coincides with the second half of Navratri and culminates in the Grand Celebration of Vijaya Dashami - also know as Dusshera in other parts of the country.
Every locality, every sub locality organizes its on "Puja" , with its own uniquely themed "Pandals" and lightning arrangements.
The entire city comes alive in the evening with a festive atmosphere and millions of people hopping from "Pandal" to "Pandal" admiring the workmanship and design of each of these unique creations. People go "Pandal" hopping from early in the evening till early hours of the morning the following day with their friends and family, helping themselves to a myriad of street food along the way, which is also one of Kolkata's specialties.
Five days of festivities culminate in the Vijaya Dashami celebrations and immersion of the Durga idols in the holy Hooghly river.
Being in Kolkata during the Durga Puja is an experience bar none -- one which I have been lucky to witness countless time since my childhood days int he city.
This time, I headed home to capture some of that spirit through my camera and lenses.
Non funtionalChandralok cinema is used by artists from Bengal to prepare idols for Durga Puja Samitis in Delhi.