Durga Puja 2023: Durga puja is the big festival of Hindu. A million devotee celebrates this, Puja. In India this festival is celebrated in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Tripura and Bihar were celebrated mostly. And also Durga Puja in different state of India. It is a special and big puja of Bengali community.
The puja starts from the sixth day of Shardiya Navaratri in Shasti Tithi in the month of Ashwin and Continues till Dussehra and Durga Visarjan which will be celebrated on Dashami Tithi of Sukla Paksha in the same month. The Durga Puja celebrated for five days. Durga Puja marks the victory over the Ashur Mahishasur.
This year Puja Starts from 20th October and ends on 24th Otober 2023.
Durga Puja 2023: Date and timings
| Durga Puja Day date | Timings |
| 20th October 2023 Friday (Maha Sashti) | Shasti Tithi Starts – October 20,2023-12:31 am Sashti Tithi Ends – October 20,2023-11:24 pm “Kalparambho” Shasthi Puja Within 8:31am Durga Devi “BODHON”,”Amantran” and “Adhibas” In the evening. |
| 21st October 2023 Saturday (Maha Saptami) | Saptami Tithi starts- October 20,2023-11:24 pm Saptami Tithi ends-October 21,2023-09:53 pm Durga Devi “Nabo Patrika”,bathing of “Kola Bou”, “Saptami Puja” 7:05am-9:28am and at Midnight Durga Puja 10:58pm-11:46pm |
| 22nd October 2023 Sunday (Maha Astami) | Astami Tithi Starts-October 21,2023-09:53 pm Astami Tithi Ends-October 22,2023-07:58 pm Ashtami Puja Within 9:28am Sandhi Puja 4:54pm-5:42pm |
| 23rd October 2023 Monday (Maha Navami) | Navami Tithi Starts-October 22,2023-07:58 pm This Tithi Ends-October 23,2023-05:44 pm Navami Puja within 7:06am and 8:31am-9:28am |
| 24th October 2023 Tuesday (Maha Dashami ) | Dashami Tithi Starts-October 23,2023-05:44 pm This Tithi Ends-October 24,2023-03:14 pm Dashami puja Bisharjan within 7:06am and 8:32am-9:28am |
What done in Five days during Durga Puja
In the Day of Sashti devotee believe that Goddess Durga descends on earth with his four children Ganesh, Karthik, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The colourful idols of the Goddess Durga the handcrafted and installed for the festival are unveiled. In the day of Saptami which is the first day of Duga Puja, when the holy presence of Goddess Durga is invoked into the idols in a ritual called Pran Prathista. The day begins with the Kola Bou bath, in which a banana tree is bathed in a river or body of water before dawn, draped in a sari like a newlywed bride (known as “Kola Bou”, the banana bride), and used to carry the goddess’s spirit. The nine divine manifestations of Goddess Durga are represented by nine different types of Pants.
Astami is the one of the most significant day of Durga Puja. In this day Goddess Durga is worshiped in the form of Kumari puja. Evening of the day Sandhi Puja is performed to worship Goddess Durga in her Chamunda form. In this day Maa Durga, during her battle to defeat the buffalo demon Mahishasura, she slayed his two accomplices, Chanda and Munda.
Navami of Durga Puja 2023
Navami is the last day of Worship, and it is marked by a maha aarti (great fire ceremony) to mark the culmination of the rites and prayers. On this day, Goddess Durga is said to have killed the buffalo Ashur Mahishasura, and she is worshipped as Mahisasuramardini. Everyone dresses up in their most opulent and gorgeous attire. The goddess’s favourite bhog is made and served to worshippers after being offered to her.
Dashami is the day when Goddess Durga returns to her husband’s house and the statues are immersed. Married ladies rub themselves with Sindur (red vermillion powder) that is known as Sindur Khela and offer it to the Goddess (this powder indicates the status of marriage, and thus fertility and childbearing). People visit their family and friends after the immersion to give and receive blessings. Sweets are given out, and expensive dinners are shared. The day’s dress code is traditional and classic.
Mantra of Ma Durga
Jayanti Mangala Kaali Bhadrakaali Kapalini, Durga Kshama Shivadhatri Swaha Swadha Namostute..!!
Sarva Mangal Maangalyaye Shive Sarvartha Sadhike, Sharanyaye Triyabike Gauri Narayani Namostute..!!
