Durga Mata at Lal Bagh
Originally uploaded by flickr photographerno1
I visited the Lal Bagh area today, to shoot the Durgas , at the workshops , most of them had left last night , i shot over 100 pictures and this is one pictorial activity that I dont miss..
The gold on the person of The Durga Mata is real and belongs to the pandal.An average statue of this size costs Rs 6000/Today is the first day of Navratra , the Dandiya Dance begins tonite..
Durga Mata at Wikipedia
In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: "the inaccessible"[1], Bengali: দুর্গা) is a form of Devi, the supreme goddess. In Bengal, she is said to be the mother of Ganesha, Kartikeya as well of Saraswati and Lakshmi.[2]
Durga is depicted as a warrior woman riding a lion or a tiger with multiple hands carrying weapons and assuming mudras, or symbolic hand gestures. This form of the Goddess is the embodiment of feminine and creative energy (Shakti).
In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: "the inaccessible"[1], Bengali: দুর্গা) is a form of Devi, the supreme goddess. In Bengal, she is said to be the mother of Ganesha, Kartikeya as well of Saraswati and Lakshmi.[2]
Durga is depicted as a warrior woman riding a lion or a tiger with multiple hands carrying weapons and assuming mudras, or symbolic hand gestures. This form of the Goddess is the embodiment of feminine and creative energy (Shakti).
Durga in the Hindu tradition
According to the narrative from the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana, the form of Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight a demon. The demon's father Rambha, king of the demons, once fell in love with a water buffalo, and Mahishasur was born out of this union. He is therefore able to change between human and buffalo form at will (mahisha means "buffalo"). Through intense prayers to Brahma, Mahishasura had the boon that he could not be defeated by any man or god. He unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds.
Eventually, since only a woman could kill him, the trinity bestowed a dazzling beam of energy upon the Goddess Trinity (Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati), transforming her into the goddess, Durga. Her form was blindingly beautiful with three lotus-like eyes, ten powerful hands, lush black hair with beautiful curls, a red-golden glow from her skin and a quarter moon on her forehead. She wore a shiny oceanic blue attire emitting fierce rays. Her ornaments were carved beautifully of gold, with ocean pearls and precious stones embedded in it. Her face was sculpted by Shiva, torso by Indra, breasts by Chandra (the moon), teeth by Brahma, bottom by the Earth, thighs and knees by Varuna (water), and her three eyes by Agni (fire). Each god also gave her their own most powerful weapons, Rudra's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, Brahma's kamandal, Kuber's gada, etc. Himalayas gifted her a fierce whitish golden lion. On the end of the 8th and beginning of the 9th day of waxing moon, Chanda and Munda came to fight the goddess. She turned blue with anger and goddess Chamunda leaped out of her third eye. Her form was the most powerful one with 3 red eyes, blood-filled tongue and dark skin; who finally killed the twin demons with her sword. This form of the divine goddess is worshipped during the sandhikshan of Durga Puja festival, as sandhi/chandi puja. Finally on the tenth day of waxing moon, goddess Durga killed Mahishasura with her trident.
The word Shakti, meaning strength, reflects the warrior aspect of the goddess, embodying a traditional male role. She is also strikingly beautiful, and initially Mahishasura tries to marry her. Other incarnations include Annapurna and Karunamayi (karuna = kindness).
The 4 day Durga Puja is the biggest annual festival in Bengal and other parts of Eastern India, but it is celebrated in various forms throughout the Hindu universe.
The day of Durga's victory is celebrated as Vijaya Dashami (East and South India), Dashain (Nepal) or Dussehra (North India) - these words literally mean "the tenth" (day), vijaya means "of-victory". In Kashmir she is worshipped as shaarika (the main temple is in Hari Parbat in Srinagar).
The actual period of the worship however may be on the preceding nine days followed by the last day called Vijayadashami in North India or five days in Bengal, (from the sixth to tenth day of the waxing-moon fortnight). Nine aspects of Durga known as Navadurga are meditated upon, one by one during the nine-day festival by devout shakti worshippers.
In North India, this tenth day, signifying Rama's victory in his battle against the demon Ravana, is celebrated as Dussehra - gigantic straw effigies of Ravana are burnt in designated open spaces (e.g. Delhi's Ram Lila grounds), watched by thousands of families and little children.
In Gujarat it is celebrated as the last day of Navaratri, during which the Garba dance is performed to celebrate the vigorous victory of Mahishasura-mardini Durga.
The Goddess Durga worshipped in her peaceful form as Shree Shantadurga also known as santeri , is the patron Goddess of Goa. She is worshipped by all Goan Hindus irrespective of caste and even by some Christians in Goa.
Goddess Durga is worshipped in many temples of Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durga
Navratra
Navratra literally means '9 nights'.
During these days and nights, prayers are offered to 'Mother Goddess’ Hindus believe that the Mother stands for everything that is everywhere in the Universe. As ' Mother Durga' She sits on a Lion. Mother Durga gives us the power to eat, breathe, walk, etc. Mother Laxmi gifts us all the wealth that we possess, and all the wonderful things that money can buy. Mother Saraswati, gifts us knowledge. So before studying and before you appear for your exams, do not forget to say: ‘Om Saraswati Namah’
During the 9 days of Navratra people dance the Garba Dance. It symbolizes the Dance of Creation. It celebrates the Creation of the Universe. The word 'Garba' stems from 'Garbha' which means the ‘womb’ and symbolizes the 'Dance of Creation'
Whether we pray to Mother Goddess or not, She thinks of us all the time. She holds us in our arms when we feel sad, in the form of our own mother, or friend. Mother Laxmi gives us various gifts from time to time. As Mother Saraswati, she teaches us all the wonderful things that we need to learn. And as Mother Kali, She scolds us when we are naughty.
These days comes twice in a year and celebrated in different parts of India in different ways
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navratra
Dandiya:The Great Indian Social Dance
sumesh.wordpress.com/2006/09/29/dandiyathe-great-indian-g...
