As mentioned in one of my previous posts, we had the chance in the last couple of days to enjoy Durga Puja celebrations. The festival of Durga 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 Nabami 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".
Durga Puja festival marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. Thus, Durga Puja festival symbolises the victory of Good over Evil.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, who is Durga's consort (husband) in addition to Lakshmi, Saraswati with Ganesha and Kartikeya, who are considered to be Durga's children.Worship of mother nature is done, through nine types of plant (called "Kala Bou"), including a plantain (banana) tree, which represent nine divine forms of Goddess Durga.Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted sculptures (murti) of Durga.
At the end of six days, the sculpture is taken for immersion in a procession amid loud chants and drumbeats to the river or other water body. It is cast in the waters symbolic of the departure of the deity to her home in the Himalayas.
Durga Puja commemorates the annual visit of the Goddess with Her children to Her parents' home, leaving finally on the Dashami to be re-united with Shiva.
#ibmcsc india23
Durga Puja festival marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. Thus, Durga Puja festival symbolises the victory of Good over Evil.
Durga Puja also includes the worship of Shiva, who is Durga's consort (husband) in addition to Lakshmi, Saraswati with Ganesha and Kartikeya, who are considered to be Durga's children.Worship of mother nature is done, through nine types of plant (called "Kala Bou"), including a plantain (banana) tree, which represent nine divine forms of Goddess Durga.Modern traditions have come to include the display of decorated pandals and artistically depicted sculptures (murti) of Durga.
At the end of six days, the sculpture is taken for immersion in a procession amid loud chants and drumbeats to the river or other water body. It is cast in the waters symbolic of the departure of the deity to her home in the Himalayas.
Durga Puja commemorates the annual visit of the Goddess with Her children to Her parents' home, leaving finally on the Dashami to be re-united with Shiva.
#ibmcsc india23
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| The gate of the pandal in Aditoyapur (most expensive in Jamshedpur) |
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| Peacock (the national animal of India besides the tiger I guess :) ) |
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| This temple was built only for Durga Puja and will be dismantled afterwards....:( |
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| The inside of the temple |
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| One of the dance performances we saw during pujas |
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| Mark, Yves and me with Durga and her children |
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| Ganesha (god of intellect&wisdom - mouse), Lakhsmi (goddess of wealth,love, prosperity - owl), Durga, Saraswati (goddess of art&knowledge - swan), Kartikeya (god of war - peacock) |
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| Ladies wearing saari-s |
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| All of us dressed up in traditional Indian style for bogh (lunch) on Thursday |
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| Kalamandir team differently :) |
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| My favourite little dancers from Gujarat state |
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| Pandal is being dismantled and some of us were lucky enough to get the metal decoration pieces |
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| Durga and family on her way to the river |
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| United colors of IBM |
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| Immersion on the riverbank |
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| Michelle, Darren and myself waiting for the immersion ceremony of 'our' Durga |
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| :) |
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Yves and myself dancing in Hanuman mask.JPG) |
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| Do you know these crazy people? |
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| Dancing&having fun |
