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15:57
Bengal Media
Diwali is one of the most celebrated festivals of the Hindus. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout India. With this festival are associated many lores and legends. It marks the victory of Rama over Ravana. As a matter of fact, this festival is the symbol of victory of the forces of virtue over the evil.
On the day of Diwali, there are hectic activities all over the country. People invite their near and dear ones. In this festival, sweets are made and distributed among friends and relatives. People indulge in fun and frolic all the day.
Everybody dresses up in new & glittering dresses. At the same time, during night, fireworks and crackers are also let off. The bright flames of the fireworks present an exquisite sight in the dark night.
The festival wears a lovely look with people celebrating in the most enthusiastic manner. At night, people illuminate their houses with lights, diyas, candles and tubelights. They eat, drink and enjoy the evening amidst bursting crackers. The cities and towns are decorated with lights and sounds of the fireworks mark the celebrations. Apart from houses, public buildings and govt. offices are also lit up.
Many Hindus perform Lakshmi Puja before celebrating Diwali. The Hindus worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth on this day. They chant prayers so that Goddess Lakshmi may visit their home & shower wealth & prosperity on them.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated in every nook and corner of the country. So, this festival also creates a sense of oneness among the people & binds people of different caste, creed & religions together. India has been celebrating this festival for thousands of years and continues it even today. All Indians love this festival.
15:08
Bengal Media
Kali Puja is performed on a new moon night. As Goddess Kali is associated with dark rites and demon worship, the rituals performed are austere and offered with great devotion. In Bengal, Kāli is venerated in the festival Kali Puja - the new moon day of Ashwin month which coincides with Diwali festival.
Kali has dark skin and hideous tusked face, smeared with blood, the brow bearing a third eye, like Shiva's. She is considered to be the consort of Lord Shiva. She has four arms. She holds a weapon in one hand, in another the head of an asura, dripping with blood; the other two are raised to bless the worshipers. Her body is naked except for her 'ornaments',which include necklace of snakes, skulls and heads of demons and a belt from which hangs demon's hands, which signify Karma or action.
Kali developed her thirst for blood after killing the demon Raktavera. Lord Brahma had granted a boon to Raktavera that every drop of blood which fell from his body would be able to produce thousands more like him. The only way Kali could kill him was to hold him high, pierce him with a spear and drink all his blood as it gushed out. Kali has a protruding tongue with blood dripping from it. This is said to signify the force that gives impetus to all activities. Kali once gave free rein to her blind lust for destruction. On one occasion Shiva himself had to mingle among the demons whom she was slaughtering and allowed himself to be trampled under her foot in her dance of victory, as it was the only way to bring her to her senses and save the world from collapse. She acquired her name Kali meaning 'conqueror of time' as she subdued her husband by trampling over him. This way Devi the symbol of fertility conquered Shiva, the inexorable destroyer,who was equated with time.
Two famous Goddess Kali's temples are : Kalighat Temple And Dakshineswar Kali Temple
Kalighat Kali Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Maa Kali.It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.The Dakshineswar Kali Temple is a Hindu temple located in Dakshineswar near Kolkata.
KALIGHAT KALI TEMPLE :
KALI MAA IN KALIGHAT TEMPLE
DAKSHINESWAR KALI TEMPLE :
KALI MAA IN DAKSHINESWAR KALI TEMPLE :
14:42
Bengal Media
Goddess Saraswati is represented as a graceful woman in white, a symbol of purity and peace. She is the Goddess, who signifies knowledge, learning, art and culture.
The Mythology:
In the Vedas, Goddess Saraswati is referred to as the water deity and is revered for her purifying and enriching powers. The Goddess of knowledge and learning is said to have invented Sanskrit - the language of the Brahmins, of scriptures and scholars.
It is also believed that it was Goddess Saraswati, who discovered 'amrit' in the Himalayas and brought it to the demigods. She is said to be identical with Viraj being created out of the substance of Purusha or Prajapati and thus is the instrument of creation. As Brahma's wife, she provides the power to execute what Brahma conceives with his creative intelligence. She is the goddess of all the creative arts and in particular, of poetry and music, learning and science.
The Celebration of Saraswati Puja:
Saraswati puja is celebrated throughout the country. Saraswati is the Goddess of Knowledge and is generally worshipped by the students, usually at their home. Students place all their books and their pens at the deity's feet, which they would use during the final examination for the whole day. Next day, they collect them, write “Om Saraswatya Namah” on a piece of paper and then start studying.The festivities that accompany Saraswati puja are a part of the social celebrations. Young girls are seen clad in yellow saries. Pushpanjali (offering flowers to the Goddess along with the chanting of hymns) are offered. Bright palash flowers considered to be a part of the worship, are offered to the deity.Young people enjoy the day with each other. Cultural programs are staged at night. The Goddess, who is the patron of music, culture and learning is revered by singers and musicians with great devotion.
11:23
Bengal Media
Durga Puja is performed during the autumn season every year. For the Hindus, it is the greatest festival. The puja is held for the three consecutive days : the Saptami, the Astami and the Navami and the fourth day, the Dashami, the image is immersed in the water of a tank or a river.
Sindur khela(vermilion play) is a major event of Dashami. Married women apply vermilion to each other and greet each other with sweets. It is in the evening when the image of Goddess Durga is immersed in the water. Bengalis greet each other with Bijoya Greetings and men follow the customary 'Kola-Kuli' (embracing each other). Durga Puja is a festival that the Bengalis celebrate without religious inhibitions. It is more of a socio-cultural celebration that tends to renew kinship with friends and relatives.
The image is worshipped along with those of other deities like Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya. The frame, on which the said images are installed, contains also the image of Asura (demon) and the lion, the vehicle of Goddess Durga. There is also a rat at the feet of Ganesha. There is a Chal-Chitra which is a circular canvas of mat containing paintings of heavenly scenes placed at the back of the idols. The entire frame of the Gods and Goddesses is placed on a raised platform of altar made of wooden plunks.
The Mandap is decorated savilion with beautiful illumination. Every evening, the priest performs aarati or greets the Goddess by waiving lamps and incense in accompaniment of the beating of drums, while the puja (worship) is held.
During this great festival, the Hindus buy new clothes for their near and dear ones. they want to forget their past differences with their rivals or enemies. After the immersion, on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, the Hindus embrace one another as a token of love and affection, and distribute sweets among all. Durga Puja is now-a-days more a festival than a religious rite. Sometimes the non-Hindus are also found to participate in the festival as a social gesture.
Durga Puja is more popular in Bengal. It is performed with more pomp and grandeur there than in any other state of India. People from neighbouring states come to Kolkata during the time, in order to witness the attractive Puja pavilion. Durga Puja is also held at Delhi, Mumbai, chennai and other important cities and towns of India, and also the villages.
Durga Puja was first performed in Bengal by a Zaminder (Landlord). Then it came to be popular with the introduction of the Sarvojanin pujas performed with the joint effort of about twelve Zaminders; and hence it is called Barwari (twelve years or friends). Now-a-days, Durga Puja is also held at London and New York, where the Indians perform the puja every year.
Mother Goddess Durga is considered as the most powerful Goddess who is the bestower of strength, prosperity and all the best gifts in life. So the devotees pray to Her for various boons. She killed the demon king Mahishasura who had been troubling the Gods and Goddesses and occupied Indra's throne in heaven. So the Gods and Goddesses also worship the great Goddess Durga. She is also known as Mahisasuramardini. The legend is incorporated inSri Sri Chandi, a chapter in the Markandeya Purana composed by sage Markandeya.
