As per the age old mythological beliefs, on this day of the Durga Pooja, the demon Mahishasur defeated the Gods and their King Indra, who approached the Holy Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. They in turn sought the help of the divine mother Durga who equipped with lethal weapons, riding a ferocious lion, in all her awesome majesty, killed Mahishasur. Devi Durga is Shakti, the cosmic energy that animates all beings. In the Krittibas Ramayana, Rama invokes the goddess Durga in his battle against Ravana. Although she was traditionally worshipped in the spring, due to contingencies of battle, Rama had to invoke her in the autumn akaal bodhan. This spring time puja known as Basanti Puja. Durga Puja is celebrated twice a year, once in the month of Chaitra (April-May) and then in Ashwin (September-October). On both Occasions nine different forms of Goddess Durga is worshipped therefore called Durga Navratri (nine nights). According to the Hindu Calendar Durga Pooja festival starts on the first day and ends on tenth day of bright half (Shukla Paksha) of Ashwin month.The worship of Durga in the autumn ( Sharad ) is the year's largest Hindu festival of Bengal. Durga Puja is celebrated from the sixth to tenth day of the waxing moon in the month of Ashwin (Bengali month), which is the sixth month in the Bengali calendar. Occasionally however, due to shifts in the lunar cycle relative to the solar months, it may also be held in the following month, Kartik (Bengali month) in the months of September and October.
KALI PUJA
According to the Hindu Mythology, when Shambhu and Nishambhu disturbed the silence-fast of Indra, the king of Gods and their alliance fought intensively, The Gods lost all hope and the demons became stronger that the Gods took refuge in the Himalayas (Holy Mountains), the home of Lord Shiva and Parvati. The shaken gods sought protection from Mahamaya Durga, the goddess of Shakti. Kali was born from Durga's forehead as Kal Bhoi Nashini, created to save heaven and earth from the growing cruelty of the demons. Along with Dakini and Jogini, her two escorts, she set on her way to end the war and kill the devils. After lots of confusion and after slaughtering the demons, Kali Devi made a garland of their heads and wore it around her neck. In the bloodbath, she lost control and started killing anyone who came her way. The gods started running for their lives. The only source of protection seemed Lord Shiva, Durga's companion. After having seen the endless slaughter, Shiva devised a plan to save the world. He lay down in the path of the rampaging Kali. When the goddess unknowingly stepped on him, she regained her senses. The well-known picture of Ma Kali, with her tongue hanging out, actually depicts the moment when she steps on the Lord and repents. Kali Puja is observed on the night of Kartik (Bengali month), Amavasya, which falls in October / November. Goddess Kali is one of the fiercest forms of the Shakti, the eternal energy and the cosmic power. Kali has the strength to destroy the whole existence. Kali symbolizes the basic powers to fight the evil and the strengths essential to fight the rivals. According to Hinduism, we are living in the Kali Yuga (age) or the Dark Age; the time of revival of the divine female spirit. Kali Puja explores and illuminates the rich meaning of feminine divinity.
ANNAPURNA PUJA
The origin of Goddess Annapurna is related to the mythological tale of Lord Brahma and Vishnu being worried about the extinction of food from earth resulting in perishing of many human beings. These gods pleaded to Lord Shiva who invited the goddess Annapurna to earth and begged for food from her. Lord Shiva distributed the food received from the Devi and since then promised her that she should continue to nourish the people of earth and in turn he would give Moksha to the people of Kasi where the goddess resides. Goddess Annapurna Puja is observed in Shukla paksha of Chaitra (Bengali month), as per the traditional Hindu (Bengali) calendar. Devotees who worship of Goddess Annapurneshwari will be blessed with prosperity and health. Women worship Annapurneshwari Devi for their better married life. They also perform Annapurneswari Pooja for their children’s health and better growth.
SHIV PUJA
According to Hindu mythology, there are two primary Gods Brahma - the creator, Mahavisnu - the protector and the chief God for all - the God Shiva holds the responsibility of maintaining the life cycle of the entire world. It is believed by the Hindus that God Shiva is the only God who is the head of all the Gods as portrayed in the Hindu mythology, who is everlastingly in deep meditation, totally absorbed in contemplation in His dwelling "Kailash Mountain" in the Himalayan range. Given much of importance in the Hindu Mythological beliefs, Shivratri Puja is a significant and famous celebration of Hindus. The prolonged Puja celebration by the Devotees, on the eve of Shivratri is believed to be an occasion to please Lord Shiva the most. The main belief of celebrating Shivratri is that by pleasing Lord Shankara on the auspicious Shivaratri day, a believer is pardoned of past sins and is blessed with Moksha (settle in heavens after death) or salvation. Worship of Lord Shiva on Shivratri is observed on Shravan Shukla Sashti or the sixth day during Shukla paksha in Shravan (Bengali month). The vratha is observed on the next day of Nag Panchami. Shivratri is also considered to be extremely positive for women. For married women pray to Shiva for the well being of the male persons in the family (husbands and sons), unmarried women pray for an early marriage with husband like Lord Shiva.
GANESH PUJA
When Goddess Gauri (wife of Lord Shiva) once, while bathing, created Ganesha as a pure white being out of the mud of Her Body and placed Him at the entrance of the house. She told Him not to allow anyone to enter while she went inside for a bath. Lord Shiva Himself was returning home quite thirsty and was stopped by Ganesha at the gate. Shiva became angry and cut off Ganesha's head as He thought Ganesha was an outsider. When Gauri came to know of this she was sorely grieved. To console her grief Shiva ordered His aides to cut off and bring to Him the head of any creature that might be sleeping with its head facing north. The servants went on their mission and found only an elephant in that position. The sacrifice was thus made and the elephant's head was brought before Shiva. The Lord then joined the elephant's head onto the body of Ganesha. Lord Shiva then made His son worthy of worship at the beginning of all undertakings, marriages, expeditions, studies, etc. He intended that the annual worship of Ganesha should take place on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadnpada. Without the Grace of Sri Ganesha and His help nothing whatsoever can be achieved. No action can be undertaken without His support, Grace or blessing. Ganesha Chaturthi festival falls in the month of Bhadro (Bengali month) in August/September. Ganesh Chaturthi is an important festival on the Hindu calendar which is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. Ganesha as per Hindu mythology is considered to be the 'vigana harta' (remover of obstacles) for his many devotees. Ganesh Chaturthi festival gives an opportunity to the innumerous devotees of Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati to offer prayers to their deity and seek his blessings.
LAXMI PUJA
The Hindu goddess of good fortune and beauty, mother of Kama, the young god of love. She arose from the milky foam of the waves at the Churning of the Ocean. She is the consort of Vishnu, and is his wife during each of his incarnations. She is also known as Sri. The goddess Sri-Lakshmi does not appear in the earliest Vedic literature ' The term Sri, however, does occur quite often, and it is clear that the meanings of the term are related to the nature of the later goddess Sri-Lakshmi. As used in the Vedic hymns the term Sri suggests capability, power, and advantageous skills. As an external quality Sri suggests beauty, luster, glory, and high rank. Sri refers to most auspicious qualities and suggests general well-being in terms of physical health, material prosperity, bodily beauty, and ruling majesty. In what may be the earliest myth that speaks of Sri as a goddess, she is the personification or embodiment of auspicious, particularly royal, qualities' She is born as a result of the austerities of Prajapati. Seeing Sri, the other gods covet her qualities and proceed to steal them from her. Ten qualities, or objects, are listed: food, royal power, universal sovereignty, noble rank, power, holy luster, kingdom, fortune, bounteousness, and beauty." In Vedic literature, then, the goddess Sri's origin seems to be the result of the personification of auspicious qualities, particularly those associated with royal power and riches. Lakshmi Puja is the important puja observed on Sharad purnima ( Kojagiri Purnima ), theFull Moon day which falls after Durga Pooja in Ashwin (Bengali month). This Purnima is known as the brightest night of the year.
SARASWATI PUJA
Amongst all the Hindu deities, Saraswati stands out as the most controversial. Starting from the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads to the popular ancient mythology, Saraswati appears through a veil of mystery. According to the Matsya Purana, Saraswati evolved from the mouth of Brahma. Such was her beauty and grace that Brahma pursued her. As she fled in different directions a head appeared and so Brahma is attributed with five heads, she was the most unique creation of Brahma. Saraswati is the Hindu Goddess of wisdom, learning, arts, knowledge, music and speech. Saraswati Puja, the worship of Hindu goddess of learning, is observed on the Basant Panchami (January/ February) day. Basant Panchmi is the significance of arrival of Basant (Spring) after winter season. Saraswati Puja is observed on the fifth day after no moon night in Magh (Bengali month).
SATYANARAYAN PUJA
Hindus all over worship Lord satyanarayana in their homes. Lord satyanarayana is an avatar of Lord Vishnu himself. Satya means truth and Narayana means the Absolute. This pooja is usually performed on specific tithi of a Bengali month, any auspicious occasion like after a wedding in the family, moving into a new house etc. Ideally this pooja should be performed on a new moon day in the evening after fasting the whole day. This is the Satyanarayana Vratham or Vratha. In this pooja, Lord Satyanarayana is worshipped by devotees by reciting the story of His greatness which is explained in five chapters with five different stories. These are known as Shri Satyanarayana Katha. Shri Satyanarayan is none other than Lord Vishnu and Satyanarayana Puja is observed on full moon days, sankranti days or even on new moon days. The most auspicious days are the purnimas of Chaitra, Vaishakh, Shravan and Kartik.
JAGADHATRI PUJA
Jagadhatri Puja is also known as Dhatri Pooja or Jagadamba Puja. Jagadhatri Puja is observed on the ninth day of the waxing phase of moon in Kartik month in Bengal. Goddess Jagadhatri is a manifestation of Goddess Durga and the festival is mainly observed in the Chandannagar area in West Bengal – the ritual had its origin here. Goddess Jagaddhatri is one of the most popular forms of Durga worshipped in Eastern parts of India. She is believed to be provider of the Purusharthas – Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. The Devas, demons and humans realized their folly and soon prayed before Goddess Durga to retrieve the light which will end the universe. The light transformed into Goddess Jagaddhatri – sustainer of the worlds.
SRI HANUMAN PUJA
Hindu mythology described that Shree Hanuman was born as a monkey god to serve Lord Ram. He is true Karma who worked dynamically. He did what others could not do while serving Rama. He plunge with daring acts like crossing the ocean simply by uttering Ram-Nam, burning the city of Lanka, and bringing the sanjeevini herb and restoring Lakshmana to life again. Sri Hanuman is a Hindu deity, who is an passionate devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana. Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine, whose fate it is to aid the hero Rama in the struggle against the demon king Ravana. He is worshipped as a deity who can ward off evil spirits and is considered to possess strength, courage and magical powers. According to the legend, once Sri Hanuman saw Goddess Sita applying sindoor on her forehead. On seeing this, Lord Hanuman enquired from her the reason for applying Sindoor.Goddess Sita replied that this would ensure a long life for her husband. Hanuman then smeared his entire body with sindoor, in an effort to ensure Rama's immortality. So on this day, devotees visit temples and apply tilak of sindoor to their foreheads from the Hanumans body as this is considered to be good luck. The birthday of Sri Hanuman falls on “Chaitra Shukla Purnima” (Bengali Month) on full moon day in the months of March- April. On the auspicious day of Sri Hanuman Jayanti, Shree Hanuman is worshipped and people visit the Hanuman temple and apply the sindhoor taken from the idol of Hanuman on their forehead. It is supposed to bring good luck to them.
BAGALAMUKHI PUJA
A demon named Madan undertook austerities and won the boon of vak siddhi, according to which anything he said came about. He abused this siddhi by killing people. Enraged by his mischief, the gods worshipped Bagalamukhi. She stopped the demon's rampage by taking hold of his tongue and stilling his speech. Before she could kill him, however, he asked to be worshipped with her, and she relented, that is why he is depicted with her. She is almost always portrayed in this act, holding a club in one hand, with which she is about to strike her enemy, and with the other hand pulling his tongue. In this myth, by stopping the demon's tongue, she exercises her peculiar power over speech and her power to freeze, stun, or paralyze. Bagla Mukhi Devi is one of the ten Hindu Goddess of Power known as Das Mahavidhya. Baglamukhi Puja is performed as per vedic ritual, to defeat enemies, it not only decrease the power of the enemy but also create an atmosphere where he or she becomes helpless. Among her epithets in her hymn of a thousand names are She Who Gives The Eight Siddhis, She Who Gives Magical and Mystical powers (riddhis and siddhis), and She Who Gives All Siddhis. At the end of her stotra (hymn) in the Rudrayamala, it is said that those who worship her will be able to make their enemies deaf and dumb, destroy their intelligence, and turn their wealth to poverty.
TARA PUJA
According to Hindu mythology, Sati (wife of Lord Siva) was insulted by her father Dakshmaharaj at the Yagna Place and she took extreme step of self immolation in the Yagna pyre. Knowing this Lord Siva started his intensive Rudra Tandava (dance). Gods were afraid that the whole world will face destruction if it is not stopped. Lord Vishnu using his Sudarshan Chakra, cut the body of Sati into pieces and the body parts were placed in different locations all over Indian subcontinent. At these holy places Sakthi temples were erected. Tarapith is one such place where the eye ball of Sati had fallen. At this temple, Sakthi is worshipped. Kali is regarded as one of the principal deities of Bengal. Kali is a powerful and complex goddess with multiple forms. Tara Maa of Tarapith, another form of Kali, has two hands, is garlanded with snakes, is adorned in sacred threads, and has Shiva lying in her left lap sucking her breast. But the temple is dedicated to the destructive aspect of Shiva, which takes the form of Kali. She requires sacrifice daily to satisfy her blood lust so every morning goats are sacrifices on the altar of the temple. Tara Maa Puja will provide you relief from pain if any your heart and mind.
SRI KRISNAHA PUJA
Krishna is considered as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, the divine. Shri Krishna is the very embodiment of love and divine ecstasy that destroys all pain and offense. Lord Krishna took birth over five thousand years ago in Mathura, India to Devaki (Sister of Cruel Demon-King Kansa) and Vasudeva in the prison cell of the tyrant Kansa. The sage Narada had predicted that Kansa would be killed by his nephew, so the king Killed Devaki’s first six children. Janmashtami celebrates the birth of one of the most famous Gods of Hindu religion, Bhagwan Krishna, on the eighth day (Ashtami) in the Bengali month of Sravana. Lord Sri Krishna was born on the 'Rohini' nakshatram (star). It is generally celebrated in the month of August-September according to the English calendar. Legend has it that Sri Krishna was born on a dark, stormy and windy night to end the rule and atrocities of his maternal uncle, Kansa. Krishna is recognized as the god of humor and a messenger of peace. God Krishna is the personification of love and ecstasy that vanishes all pain and sin. Krishna is a trickster and lover, a mastermind of all forms of knowledge and born to set up the religion of love. He is also known for his bravery in destroying evil powers throughout his life. The Supreme Lord comes down from time to time in this material world to reestablish the teachings of the Vedas. On the auspicious day of Shri Krishna Janmashtami Puja Aarti completes the worship or prayers made to the God. It is believed that aarti provides a completion to the puja .This arti of lord Krishna is also known as Janmashtami Aarti, which is usually sung on the birthday of Krishna.
