Subho Tritiya! The entire West Bengal is celebrating Maa Durga’s arrival with pomp and glory. Durga Puja is a marvellous occasion when Bengalis celebatre the victory of good over evil, prosperity, and the happiness of spending time with family and friends. From bari’r pujo to club er baroyari pujo, Maa Durga is worshipped at so many places. No matter if the puja is at someone’s home or in para, devotees worship Maa following traditions and rituals everywhere.
Heritage Of Durga Puja:
There are many rituals to worship Maa Durga and her children, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya on these 5 days. For bari’r pujo, there are sometimes some special rituals followed by a family. And the traditions for para’r pujo are almost the same. Durga Puja is a celebration of 5 long days and devotees worship Maa with different rituals and many traditions that most of us do not know about. Today, we are taking a look at these offbeat traditions of Durga Puja and taking you on a virtual journey to witness the glory of the biggest festival of Bengalis.
What Are The Lesser-Known Traditions Of The Biggest Festival Of Bengalis?
In recent years, Durga Puja has transformed into extravagant pandals, grand celebrations, extraordinary lighting, and a massive crowd of visitors waiting for hours to witness the magnificence of Maa and the pandals. But in between all this buzz and chaos, there is still an essence and traditions deeply rooted in the celebrations. Some not-so-famous traditions are:
- Bori is fried lentil dumplings and these are offered to Maa Durga in many pujas in North Kolkata. Even pickles are offered to the goddess.
- Moulik Bari’r pujo in North Kolkata is very famous. A tradition of this household is to offer Gobindobhog rice, Titar Daal (a bit bitter in taste dal made with bitter gourd), and fried brinjal to the children of Maa Durga, according to a report by Zee Zest.
- Bholanath Dham is one of Kolkata’s most celebrated bari’s pujas. The family members shared with Zee Zest how they follow a ritual of bathing the 7-year-old Uma Goddess in water added with the first rain, first dew drop, pollen of lotus flowers, and more.
- This family’s women also follow the tradition of Dhuno Porano where they take clay bowls and burning hot frankincense and put it on their heads and hands and sit down.
Also read: Durga Puja 2023: This Unique Phuchka-Themed Pandal Has Come To Kolkata. Khabe Naki?
Popular Traditions Of Durga Puja:
Now that we know about the lesser-known rituals of this festival, let me take you on a small journey to some of the most popular and celebrated traditions in most Durga Puja pandals. This festival can never be complete without enjoying dhunuchi naach and grooving to the beats of dhaak. A major highlight of Durga Puja is Kumari Puja where a little girl is adorned beautifully with saree and jewellery to become the embodiment of Maa Durga. During the last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami, Sandhi Puja is celebrated with 108 lotus flowers and 108 diyas.
Have you celebrated any of these traditions during Durga Puja?
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva
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