Durga Puja — a festival, grand celebration, and an emotion for every Bengali. We wait for these 5 days all throughout the year just to celebrate happiness and prosperity with our loved ones. Durga Puja is said to be the biggest festival of Bengalis and there are so many beautiful reasons behind it. Over the years and decades, a few customs have changed and today we are talking about an old tradition where Bengali brides could visit their Baba’s Bari only during this celebration of Maa Durga.
What’s The Story About Bangali Bou’s & Their Return To Home During Durga Puja?
Actor Aparajita Adhya took to Instagram to share folklore about how married daughters visited their parents’ abode during the biggest festival of the year.
The supremely talented started a fascinating series ‘নীল আকাশে কে ভাসালো সাদা মেঘের ভেলা’ (A raft of white clouds floated in the blue sky) ahead of Durga Puja. In part 2 of this series, she shared a story about how many Bengali brides came to their baap er bari during the puja only as this was the time when they got permission from the in-laws to visit their parents and spend a few days with them.
Also read: Durga Puja 2023: 8 Most Unique-Themed Puja Pandals In West Bengal To Visit This Year
Every married Bengali woman’s parents used to wait all around the year to welcome the daughters and stay with them for a couple of days. Many Bengali fathers often visited their daughters’ in-laws’ houses to invite and ask permission to allow them to return to their parents’ homes. After getting a yes from the in-laws, women could pack their bags and head to baap-er-bari during Durga Puja.
Unfortunately, not every daughter could visit their parent’s home every year.
Maa Durga Visits Her Paternal Home Once A Year!
It is said that Maa Durga reaches her parents’ abode once every year. She with her children, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya arrive at her paternal home on Earth. Mahalaya is the auspicious occasion that marks the beginning of Matri Paksha, also known as Devi Paksha. On the 6th day of puja, Maa Durga and her entourage come down to earth and bestow blessings on devotees.
On the day of Dashami, idols of Maa Durga and her children are immersed in the water. With this ritual, Maa Durga returns back to Kailash. When all the women perform rituals like Boron on Dashami, devotees often see Maa Durga idols getting teary-eyed.
Did you know about this old tradition?
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva
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