Post by Laurasia on Apr 2, 2005 14:20:02 GMT -5
Durga Puja is a big thing in West Bengal but as far as I know, Hindus
in general practice Durga Puja. It's basically the Hindu equivalent of
Christmas in terms of festivities and holiday cheer and such. Basically what
happens is on the 6th night after the new moon in October, the Goddess Durga
is brought out, usually an idol made of wood (and paint), mud (and painted),
or a picture. Usually the Goddess is depicted riding her Tiger holding
various weapons (She's said to have 100 arms) and in the process of killing
a Demon Lord. Along with the Goddess Durga, the Godesses Lakshmi and
Saraswati and the Gods Ganesh and Kharthik are brought out as well. If you
go to a temple for Durga Puja then the priests are usually saying a set of
standard prayers in Sanskrit and giving offerings of fruit, sweets, ghee
(clarified butter) and flowers to the Godesses and Gods. Usually while the
preists are saying the prayers, members of the public are allowed to throw
flower petels to the Goddesses/Gods. There are usually specific moments when
the flowers are thrown too. Members of the public are usually allowed to
perform "aarti" which is usually a method of prayer or offerings where a
metal plate with a small ghee lamp or candle, some incense and usually a
flower is offered to the Goddesses/Gods by moving the plate in a circular
motion while a prayer is said by the individual. The plate is usually then
passed on to the next individual to perform "aarti". At temples, after all
of the prayers and puja are finished, the fruit is usually cut up and
distributed among the worshipers along with the sweets. The blessed fruit
and sweets are usually called "Prasaad". The temple might even have a lunch
prepared for the people attending the ceremonies. It's usually Indian
vegetarian food.
And often if there isn't a temple in the area, the Hindu community might
just decide to put Durga Puja on in a hall or community center instead. I
know in Ottawa they usually have Durga Puja in a community center. In that
case usually what happens is that the preists will sanctify the area where
the Goddesses/Gods will sit before the idols are brought out. Otherwise the
same basic thing happens as in the temple pujas. And usually the people
involved will also look for volunteers to cook lunch for everyone. Lunch is
usually a vegetarian lunch consisting of Khichuri (which is curried lentils
and rice cooking together), different vegetable curries, pakoras, and
sweets. This usually takes place in the larger areas too.
In some of the smaller areas like where I live, individuals will usually set
up a temporary alter in their own homes. Most Hindu households have a
permanent alter somewhere quiet and not usually open to public viewing but
with Durga Puja a temporary alter is usually set up somewhere very visible
like the living room or basement. My mother brings out a picture of the
Goddess Durga that she has framed and brings out pictures and idols of the
Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati, and of the Gods Ganesh and Kharthik. Mom
also has special cloths that she uses to decorate the table that she uses as
her alter. She also has some plastic flower garlands she puts around the
picture of the Goddess Durga. Mom's also got some special plates that she
uses to place the incence and a candle holder. Real flowers are also used to
decorate the area too. Usually what happens is that people will come to
visit and bring offerings of fruit for the Goddess. Mom also usally invites
a few friends over for dinner and a small puja. All we do for that is light
some incence and a candle, sing a few songs, and have a short meditation.
And dinner is usually vegetarian. There's usually pooris, potatoe curry,
rice, lentils, and various vegetable curries. And lots of sweets.
All of this usually takes place from the sixth night to the tenth night
after the new moon in October. The Goddesses Durga and Saraswati and the
Gods Ganesh and Kharthik "go home" on the eleventh day after the new moon.
Basically the pictures, idols and decorations are put away (if the puja is
being done at a community hall or home) and the decorations in the temple
are put away. Lakshmi Puja takes place on the day of the full Moon in
October. Then the pictures/idols of the Goddess Lakshmi are put away and
life goes back to normal.
This is great fun in India because this becomes a major holiday celebration
for everyone. It's also a time when people go on vacation or to visit holy
sites. The entire point of Durga Puja though is to get help in dealing with
our own personal demons. The Goddess Durga is the Ultimate Female Divine
Force. According to Hindu mythology, She was the only one who was able to
defeat the Demons who were attacking the world. So for us, this is a big
festival. It's a great time for new beginnings, and to let go of bad habits.
Anyway, hopefully this wasn't too long winded or too boring.
*hugs*
Smita
*NOTE: I transferred this post over from the original group site. ~ Laurasia*
in general practice Durga Puja. It's basically the Hindu equivalent of
Christmas in terms of festivities and holiday cheer and such. Basically what
happens is on the 6th night after the new moon in October, the Goddess Durga
is brought out, usually an idol made of wood (and paint), mud (and painted),
or a picture. Usually the Goddess is depicted riding her Tiger holding
various weapons (She's said to have 100 arms) and in the process of killing
a Demon Lord. Along with the Goddess Durga, the Godesses Lakshmi and
Saraswati and the Gods Ganesh and Kharthik are brought out as well. If you
go to a temple for Durga Puja then the priests are usually saying a set of
standard prayers in Sanskrit and giving offerings of fruit, sweets, ghee
(clarified butter) and flowers to the Godesses and Gods. Usually while the
preists are saying the prayers, members of the public are allowed to throw
flower petels to the Goddesses/Gods. There are usually specific moments when
the flowers are thrown too. Members of the public are usually allowed to
perform "aarti" which is usually a method of prayer or offerings where a
metal plate with a small ghee lamp or candle, some incense and usually a
flower is offered to the Goddesses/Gods by moving the plate in a circular
motion while a prayer is said by the individual. The plate is usually then
passed on to the next individual to perform "aarti". At temples, after all
of the prayers and puja are finished, the fruit is usually cut up and
distributed among the worshipers along with the sweets. The blessed fruit
and sweets are usually called "Prasaad". The temple might even have a lunch
prepared for the people attending the ceremonies. It's usually Indian
vegetarian food.
And often if there isn't a temple in the area, the Hindu community might
just decide to put Durga Puja on in a hall or community center instead. I
know in Ottawa they usually have Durga Puja in a community center. In that
case usually what happens is that the preists will sanctify the area where
the Goddesses/Gods will sit before the idols are brought out. Otherwise the
same basic thing happens as in the temple pujas. And usually the people
involved will also look for volunteers to cook lunch for everyone. Lunch is
usually a vegetarian lunch consisting of Khichuri (which is curried lentils
and rice cooking together), different vegetable curries, pakoras, and
sweets. This usually takes place in the larger areas too.
In some of the smaller areas like where I live, individuals will usually set
up a temporary alter in their own homes. Most Hindu households have a
permanent alter somewhere quiet and not usually open to public viewing but
with Durga Puja a temporary alter is usually set up somewhere very visible
like the living room or basement. My mother brings out a picture of the
Goddess Durga that she has framed and brings out pictures and idols of the
Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati, and of the Gods Ganesh and Kharthik. Mom
also has special cloths that she uses to decorate the table that she uses as
her alter. She also has some plastic flower garlands she puts around the
picture of the Goddess Durga. Mom's also got some special plates that she
uses to place the incence and a candle holder. Real flowers are also used to
decorate the area too. Usually what happens is that people will come to
visit and bring offerings of fruit for the Goddess. Mom also usally invites
a few friends over for dinner and a small puja. All we do for that is light
some incence and a candle, sing a few songs, and have a short meditation.
And dinner is usually vegetarian. There's usually pooris, potatoe curry,
rice, lentils, and various vegetable curries. And lots of sweets.
All of this usually takes place from the sixth night to the tenth night
after the new moon in October. The Goddesses Durga and Saraswati and the
Gods Ganesh and Kharthik "go home" on the eleventh day after the new moon.
Basically the pictures, idols and decorations are put away (if the puja is
being done at a community hall or home) and the decorations in the temple
are put away. Lakshmi Puja takes place on the day of the full Moon in
October. Then the pictures/idols of the Goddess Lakshmi are put away and
life goes back to normal.
This is great fun in India because this becomes a major holiday celebration
for everyone. It's also a time when people go on vacation or to visit holy
sites. The entire point of Durga Puja though is to get help in dealing with
our own personal demons. The Goddess Durga is the Ultimate Female Divine
Force. According to Hindu mythology, She was the only one who was able to
defeat the Demons who were attacking the world. So for us, this is a big
festival. It's a great time for new beginnings, and to let go of bad habits.
Anyway, hopefully this wasn't too long winded or too boring.
*hugs*
Smita
*NOTE: I transferred this post over from the original group site. ~ Laurasia*
