DILIP GUHA, NEW DELHI : Durga Puja is not just a religious event; it’s a social one that brings communities together, transcending barriers and creating a sense of unity. It’s a time when the city is imbued with a spirit of joy, togetherness, and cultural pride.The air is rich with the enchanting scent of incense and the rhythmic beats of dhak drums as Delhi bursts into life, celebrating the colorful festival of Durga Puja with great fervor.
Taking the festival to unprecedented levels of splendor, the Ramakrishna Mission’s New Delhi branch, in its second year of organizing Durga Puja celebrations, has crafted a detailed pandal that captures the essence of the elaborate Shastra Puja.
Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi is 97 years old and has set up an aesthetically beautiful large pandal on its premises, with a marble platform erected for conducting the Puja in which the image of Durga along with her children, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartika, and Ganesh has been installed. Shri Biswajit Pal of Krishna Nagar, West Bengal has crafted the images. Five drummers from Birbhum (West Bengal) are also in attendance. A colourful Souvenir has also been released on this occasion which contains scholarly articles on the philosophy and practice of Druga Puja. The venue is located near the Ram Krishna Ashram Marg Metro Station in Paharganj, New Delhi.
Durga Puja which symbolizes the victory of truth over evil is a largely Bengali festival that has assumed pan-Indian proportion, Mission has made elaborate arrangements for Durga Puja from 9th to 13th October 2024. The puja starts from the Maha Shasti (Wednesday) and will run till Dashmi (Sunday). However, among these days, Asthami, the eighth day of Durga Puja, i.e. today holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. The mission organized a special Kumari Puja on Maha Ashtami Day, in which a girl aged six years was worshipped as the very embodiment of Mother Durga.
As per ritual, an unmarried teenage girl is worshipped symbolically as a goddess. Followed by Sandhi Puja, which is also a very important ritual of Durga Puja, performed on the same day between 11:45 am to 12:30 pm. A Sandhi Puja takes place on Mahashtami Day which is the threshold between Mahashtami and Mahanavami when Devi Chamunda is offered special worship.
Bhaskar Roy, the vice-president of the managing committee and a six-decade member of the Ramakrishna Mission in New Delhi, shared his insights on the festival. He highlighted that the increasing number of volunteers and devotees has been instrumental to the event’s success. Roy affirmed their dedication to celebrating the festival while strictly following the established customs and rituals.
He says “Apart from Puja and Pushpanjali in the mornings, Sandhya Arati will also be performed every evening. Bhog Prasad will be served to one and all every day from 1:00 pm onwards for which elaborate arrangements have been made. We are expecting an aggregate footfall of 40,000 plus devotees is expected to take place.” Also, “Six Dhakis (drummers) from Bolpur (near Shantiniketan) were seen in action during the Puja days.”
“The Immersion Ceremony shall be performed on the 13th of October, 2024 at 12:30 pm at Astha Kunj near Nehru Place, New Delhi under the strict supervision of the Delhi Police.”
Durga Puja in the Ramakrishna Order was started by Swami Vivekananda in 1901 after his return from the West and the invocation was done in the name of Sri Sarada Devi the Holy Mother. This tradition is followed till now by all the 30 centers of Ramakrishna Mission in India where Durga Puja is celebrated.
Talking to this reporter, Swami Sarvalokananda, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, said, “Durga Puja is the worship of woman power and by celebrating Durga Puja, all of us want the divine power to be ignited in us.” The greatness of the puja here is to invoke the auspiciousness among all. In the words of Swami Sarvalokananda Maharaj, Durga Puja is an aristocratic (Rajasik) Puja affair, in this puja, the goddess is worshipped with devotion and respect along with dhak, dhol, feeding, and fanfare. Maharaj said demonic instincts are creeping into society. Worshipping the auspicious power by destroying that demonic power will be the main purpose of Mrinmayi Maa Puja.
All centers follow the same rituals, as practiced at Belur Math, and our puja is no different,” said Sarvalokananda. Meanwhile, the Pandal at the Mission was seen filled with devotees from all parts of Delhi.
The Spiritual and Social Significance of Shakti Puja
A Discourse on ‘Shakti Puja’ by Swami Shuddhidananda, Adhyaksha, Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati was held today. Shakti Puja, a revered practice in Hindu tradition, holds profound spiritual and social implications that resonate deeply within Indian society. At its core, Shakti Puja is a celebration of the Divine Mother’s grace, a force believed to empower individuals to overcome internal and external adversities. This ritual is not only a personal spiritual journey but also more importantly a social statement, reflecting the society’s values and its recognition of women’s status.
Spiritually, Shakti Puja is an invocation to awaken the divine energy within, enabling one to conquer the metaphorical demons that represent our fears, doubts, and negative tendencies. It is a process of self-transformation and empowerment that is essential for personal contentment and spiritual growth.
Socially, the significance of Shakti Puja extends to the acknowledgment of every woman as an embodiment of the Divine Mother. In a time when the challenges faced by women are increasingly visible, the Puja serves as a reminder of the respect and honor due to them. It is a call to action against the societal evils that demean and diminish the role of women, symbolically represented by the slaying of the demon Mahishasura by Maa Durga.
He spoke about how the social significance of Shakti Puja lies first in recognizing the status of women in our society. Every woman embodies the Divine Mother, and nothing less. In this era, we are confronted with the disheartening realities faced by women, a challenge we encounter daily. The news reminds us how women are demeaned, and addressing this issue is imperative. The solution lies in the awakening of Shakti; we must eradicate the external demons, symbolized by the worship of Maa Durga as Mahishasura Mardini. Focusing on the essence of this message he told the common man and woman must remember to resist evil. In the face of adversity, it’s crucial not to yield, especially in three key situations. Firstly, when our country faces danger, we must act, not just discuss. To fight back, strength is needed—Shakti. Without this power, symbolized by MahishaSura Mardini, victory is elusive. Secondly, when our heritage is threatened, we must defend it against any malevolent force. Thirdly, when the honor of our daughters and sisters is at stake, we must stand up to protect it. In every situation, resistance to evil requires strength. This is the profound lesson of Shakti Puja, urging us to harness that power. “We should grasp the essence of Mahishasura Mardini’s spirit—the martial spirit—which is immensely vital in India today.
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