Aurobindo Saha
Senior Member
Durga Pujo, is a time of celebration for all Kolkatans (People of Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta). This is a festival for worship of goddess Durga and holds a sentimental value in hearts of Bengalis. Durga, whom Hindu mythology considers to be our mother, comes to her parrent's home every year during Autumn. Every home, every family, every shops gets prepared for this joyous time. Colors throb and laughter shines in everyone’s face.
It’s a 3 day festival and on the 4th day mother Goddess goes back to her home in Himalays to her husband, Lord Shiva. Her going back is marked by immersion of these idols in Ganges river. In Ganges than 100,000 idols of various sizes are immerged evey year.
With heavy heart, we go to see her off, and pray that she will come back again next year.
Probaby some of you may remember my last years' series 'In the Making Of Goddess' ( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=26514479 ). That time I focused on the making of these idols. This time my focus is more on the worship and the immersion activities.
You comments are welcome. Thanks for your your interest.
Worshiping Ma Durga
From a pandal near my friends place -
Diya or Lamps signifies good sign and prosperity -
108 Lotus
This is the exact number of lotus offered to the Goddess during 2nd day's worship - Sandhi Pujo. There is a nice story behind it. In mythological times, Lord Rama was meditating for Durga with 108 blue lotus. Durga came and secretly hide one lotus that Rama was supposed to offer her. She was testing Rama's devotion to her. Rama was at a loss when he found that he was short of 1 lotus. He gave his eye, since the shape resembles to lotus buds. Durga was pleased and fulflled Rama's wishes. Nice story, isn't it?
Here my friends are busy arranging 108 lotus for the worship, though these are not blue lotus
The following picture shows a priest and a pancha-pradeep (5 lamps). You may note a hand on top of the flame. The practice is to feel the flame warmth in your palm and then pass the same to your beloved. This warm is suposed to protect your near and dear ones.
On the 4th day when the festival ends, huge crowd goes to Ganges to wish farewell to Durga. Idols come in lorries, trucks and there are more than 1,000,000 people near the banks of the river Ganges. There are 1000s of photographer too. This one is taken at Judge's Ghat, Kolkata.
The following few pictures shows the immersion activity in the river. Believe me, this is such a sentimental moment to say good bye to our moher goddess, people literally cry and plede for her blessing.
Ma on her journey back to Kailash in Himalayas.
We wish her "Amar Eso Ma". (Mom, please come back again)
--
Thanks and Regards
Aurobindo
I love photography - I love painting canvas with light
It’s a 3 day festival and on the 4th day mother Goddess goes back to her home in Himalays to her husband, Lord Shiva. Her going back is marked by immersion of these idols in Ganges river. In Ganges than 100,000 idols of various sizes are immerged evey year.
With heavy heart, we go to see her off, and pray that she will come back again next year.
Probaby some of you may remember my last years' series 'In the Making Of Goddess' ( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=26514479 ). That time I focused on the making of these idols. This time my focus is more on the worship and the immersion activities.
You comments are welcome. Thanks for your your interest.
Worshiping Ma Durga
From a pandal near my friends place -
Diya or Lamps signifies good sign and prosperity -
108 Lotus
This is the exact number of lotus offered to the Goddess during 2nd day's worship - Sandhi Pujo. There is a nice story behind it. In mythological times, Lord Rama was meditating for Durga with 108 blue lotus. Durga came and secretly hide one lotus that Rama was supposed to offer her. She was testing Rama's devotion to her. Rama was at a loss when he found that he was short of 1 lotus. He gave his eye, since the shape resembles to lotus buds. Durga was pleased and fulflled Rama's wishes. Nice story, isn't it?
Here my friends are busy arranging 108 lotus for the worship, though these are not blue lotus
The following picture shows a priest and a pancha-pradeep (5 lamps). You may note a hand on top of the flame. The practice is to feel the flame warmth in your palm and then pass the same to your beloved. This warm is suposed to protect your near and dear ones.
On the 4th day when the festival ends, huge crowd goes to Ganges to wish farewell to Durga. Idols come in lorries, trucks and there are more than 1,000,000 people near the banks of the river Ganges. There are 1000s of photographer too. This one is taken at Judge's Ghat, Kolkata.
The following few pictures shows the immersion activity in the river. Believe me, this is such a sentimental moment to say good bye to our moher goddess, people literally cry and plede for her blessing.
Ma on her journey back to Kailash in Himalayas.
We wish her "Amar Eso Ma". (Mom, please come back again)
--
Thanks and Regards
Aurobindo
I love photography - I love painting canvas with light
