Durga puja
Durga Puja is a religious festival during which a ceremonial worship of goddess Durga is performed. It is an important festival of India. It is a traditional occasion which reunites people into the one Indian culture and customs. Varieties of rituals are performed all through the ten days of festival such as fast, feast and worship. It is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Lord Rama over evil Ravana. People celebrate this festival by burning the big statue of Ravana and fireworks at night of Dussehra.
Significance of Durga Puja
The festival of Navratri or Durga Puja has various significances. The meaning of Navratri is nine nights. Tenth day is known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra. It is the day when goddess Durga got victory over a demon after nine days and nine nights long battle. Goddess Durga is worshipped by the people to get strength and blessings. Worshipping Goddess Durga helps devotees to remove negative energy and negative thoughts as well as get the peaceful life. People perform statue immersion and Kanya pujan in the last four days which called as Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami. People worship a ten-armed goddess riding the lion with great enthusiasm, passion and devotion.
SIGNIFICANCE OF DURGA PUJA IN INDIA AND ITS CELEBRATION
One of India’s most auspicious festivals, Durga Pooja signifies “victory of good over evil”. The festival is celebrated by worshipping Goddess of Power (Maa Shakti). The festival occurs in the Hindu month Ashwin and festival takes place from first day to tenth day of this month. The festival is an event of great passion and zeal for Indians and overseas Indians who are settled there come back to their home in India to celebrate this grand yet auspicious birthday with their family and close ones.
The Durga Pooja goes for ten days, but the idols of Maa Durga are installed on the seventh day of Navratri. During the final three days the Durga Puja is rejoiced with great pomp and joviality. The idols of Maa Shakti can be seen in different designs, sizes and colours. Maa Durga is also called the Goddess of Power (Shakti). The idol of Goddess Shakti has ten hands and situated on the back of a big lion. The Goddess fights with Mahishasura (a demon) with ten different arms. Maa Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth & fortune) and Maa Saraswati (Goddess of wisdom & learning) stand on the both sides of Maa Durga. Both sons of Maa Durga, Kartika and Ganesh sit next to them upon a peacock and a mouse in that order. For last three days, the idols of these deities are devoted along with their mother goddess Shakti. The Durga Pooja starts from the seventh day of the bright moon.
In Durga Pooja rituals, Bhog (Prasadam) and flowers (Pushpam) is offered to Maa Durga. The prist chants the holy “Chandi Slokas” and perform the pooja rituals. On the days of Navratri, devotee women sing Bhajans and songs devoted to Maa Amba together in groups at Durga Pooja Pandals, temples and homes. On the last day, which is known as “Vijayadashami” Durga idols are immersed into the water. Well Dressed and beautifully ornamented Durga idols are take out in a parade with band and music, colours are spread all around that all people appear in a same colour of devotion to the Goddess Durga.
The form of Durga Pooja Celebration may differ as per states and locality. The grand Durga Pooja celebration can be seen in West Bengal region and Durga Pooja in Kolkata has global fame because of its splendid and passionate celebrations.
Rasgulla
Ingredients
• 1/2 liter Milk
• 2 tsp Flour (maida)
• 1/4 tsp Lemon Juice
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Water
• 4-5 drops Rosewater Essence
Procedure
• Boil milk in a pan.
• After 1 boil, turn the flame off.
• Add lemon juice into the milk and stir until white curd forms on the surface and separates from whey.
• Now, strain the milk and separate out the curd also called “chenna”
• Wash chenna well under cold running water and twist the cloth that was used for straining to extract water.
• Make smooth dough by kneading chenna. Also add maida into it and knead again.
• Make balls of small size from dough and keep aside.
• Make sugar syrup by boiling mixture of water and sugar.
• Add chenna balls to the syrup
• Cook for 15 minutes with lid partially covered this will cause puffing up of chenna balls.
• On cooling, add rose water essence and serve.
Mishti Doi
Ingredients:
• 1 tin condensed milk.
• 1 tablespoon yogurt (curd)
• 4 tablespoon sugar
• cashew nuts and almonds
Procedure:
• Heat oven to 400 degree Fahrenheit.
• Whip condensed milk, sugar and yogurt till smooth and fluffy.
• Pour into a ceramic bowl.
• Set the bowl in the heated oven.
• Remove it after 30 minutes.
• Garnish with blenched cashew nuts and almonds
• Serve chilled.