Essay On DURGA PUJA
Introduction
Holi, Diwali, Dussehra, Raksha Bandhan and Baisakhi are important Hindu festivals. The Durga Puja is how ever, the most important festival of the Hindus. This festival is celebrated in honour of the goddess Durga. Durga is the daugh ter of Himalaya and Menaka. She is a transition of sati (a change from one state to another) after her self sacrifice. She was wed ded to Shiva. The story goes that Shri Rama worshipped the goddess Durga to obtain power to kill Ravana who had abducted his wife Sita. The puja is in practice ever since then in the month of Asauj.
Durga’s Idol
In her idol, the goddess Durga is displayed with her two daughters (Lakshmi and Saraswati) and two sons Kartikeya and Ganesh and her husband, Lord Shiva, The god dess has ten hands. She carries a weapon in each hand. She stands with one foot on the back of the demon and the other foot on the lion. Saraswati stands on her left side. Similarly, Lakshmi stands on her right side. Her two sons, Kartikeya and Ganesh also stand on her right and left side.
Period of the Puja
The goddess Durga is worshipped in every Hindu household with utmost devotion and full pomp and show. It is believed that the Durga Puja not only provides delight but also removes the darkness of disappointment from every devotee’s life. All the educational institutions, offices and other places of work remain closed around the day of the festival. The puja is a season of common rejoicing. Both the maidens and the married girls observe fasts. Hawans and Yajnas are performed in every Hindu home. Dainty dishes are prepared and distributed. The people wear new clothes. Every house gives out sweet smell.
The puja lasts for three days consecutively viz., Saptami, Ashtami and Navmi. During the three days of puja, goats, rams and buffaloes are sacrificed before the goddess at certain places. The people gather together each day, after the puja is over. They express their gratitude to the goddess by lying prostrate before her idol. They also beg pardon of the goddess for the sins committed by them during the year. Then they return home with flowers and leaves of certain holy creepers. The place of puja is illumined at night and the Arti is performed amidst the appealing sounds of conches and drums. The Shakti Puja is performed on the second day (Ashtami). The way of worship is the same on both the days. It is the most important ceremony. The verses and hymns of Durga Saptashati are chanted in every home by learned schol ars.
Immersion Ceremony
The Bejoya day comes on Dashmi, when the three-days long rejoicings are over. The immersion ceremony of the images of the goddess takes place on the day of universal grief. The images are placed in a boat and are taken to the mid-stream of some holy river and are immersed there into the deep water. Then the people return home in a sorrowful mood. The Bejoya is performed in the evening. Old enmities are forgot ten on this day. The people restore their lost friendship and rela tions. The seniors bless their juniors and the juniors touch their feet.
Conclusion
The family priest sprinkles sacrificial water or the sacred water of some holy river over the members of the household and inside all the rooms. The houses are fumigated and the whole function comes to a close with the blessings of the family priest. The Kali goddess, is also another name of the Durga a goddess in Bengal. She had killed the demons Shumbh and Nishumbh. The goddess Durga has thousand and one other names.
Vocabulary
Transition- change, Abducted- kidnapped, भगा कर ले गया। Displayed- demonstrated, प्रदर्शित करना। Demon- devil, utmost- great, Disappointment- despair, Rejoicings- merry making, Consecutively- at a stretch, Gratitude- thankfulness, Illumined- lighted, रोशनी करना Immersion- plunging, निमज्जन Fumigated- perfumed, सुगन्धित करना।
IMPORTANT LINK
- आदर्श इतिहास शिक्षक के गुण एंव समाज में भूमिका
- विभिन्न स्तरों पर इतिहास शिक्षण के उद्देश्य प्राथमिक, माध्यमिक तथा उच्चतर माध्यमिक स्तर
- इतिहास शिक्षण के उद्देश्य | माध्यमिक स्तर पर इतिहास शिक्षण के उद्देश्य | इतिहास शिक्षण के व्यवहारात्मक लाभ
- इतिहास शिक्षण में सहसम्बन्ध का क्या अर्थ है ? आप इतिहास शिक्षण का सह-सम्बन्ध अन्य विषयों से किस प्रकार स्थापित करेंगे ?
- इतिहास क्या है ? इतिहास की प्रकृति एवं क्षेत्र
- राष्ट्रीय उच्चतर शिक्षा अभियान के विषय में आप क्या जानते हैं ?
- शिक्षा के वैकल्पिक प्रयोग के सन्दर्भ में एस० एन० डी० टी० की भूमिका
- राष्ट्रीय पाठ्यचर्या की रूपरेखा (एन.सी.एफ.-2005) [National Curriculum Framework (NCF-2005) ]
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