Durga Puja 2024 Date and Schedule with Significance and Rituals in West Bengal

Durga Puja, the grand festival that reverberates through the hearts of Indians, is more than just a religious celebration—it is a cultural phenomenon that brings communities together in joy, devotion, and creativity. 

As one of the most anticipated festivals of the year, Durga Puja 2024 promises to captivate devotees with its grandeur, artistry, and traditions. 

In West Bengal, Durga Puja is more than a religious event—it is deeply woven into the region's identity and culture. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, celebrating the goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolising the triumph of righteousness and the destruction of ignorance.

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Durga Puja 2024 Dates and Schedule

Durga Puja is celebrated over five days, starting with Shashthi and concluding with Vijayadashami. In 2024, the festival will be observed from October 8 to October 13, with each day holding a unique importance.

Source: Drikpanchang

Shashthi (October 9, 2024)

Welcoming the Goddess Shashthi is the first day of Durga Puja, with the unveiling of the goddess's idol in pandals. The Bodhan ritual welcomes Durga, and the idol is installed with great fanfare. Devotees offer prayers and anjali to the goddess.

Saptami (October 10, 2024)

Rituals in Full Swing On Saptami, the festivities intensify. The Nabapatrika ritual involves worshipping nine plants symbolizing Durga’s powers. Devotees also fast and offer prayers for their families' well-being.

Ashtami (October 11, 2024)

The Day of Power Ashtami, the most important day, commemorates Durga’s victory over Mahishasura. Highlights include Sandhi Puja, marking the goddess's triumph, and Kumari Puja, where young girls are honoured as embodiments of Durga. Feasts and family gatherings mark the day.

Navami (October 12, 2024)

Final Day of Worship Navami is the last day of major rituals, with prayers, anjali, and feasts. Some rural regions continue the tradition of symbolic animal sacrifice to honour Durga’s victory.

Vijaya Dashami (October 13, 2024)

Farewell Vijaya Dashami, or Dussehra, marks the goddess's return to her celestial home. Married women celebrate Sindoor Khela, applying vermilion to Durga and each other. The festival ends with the emotional Visarjan (idol immersion) accompanied by lively parades and processions.

Durga Puja 2024: Significance and Rituals in West Bengal (Kolkata)

In West Bengal, Durga Puja is not just confined to religious rituals; it is a celebration of art, culture, and creativity. Pandals are constructed across towns and cities, with each neighbourhood competing to create the most beautiful and thematic structures. These pandals are often inspired by contemporary social issues, historical events, or famous landmarks, adding layers of meaning to the festival. The craftsmanship involved in creating Durga idols is also awe-inspiring, with artisans spending months preparing lifelike and intricate images of the goddess.

Here are some famous rituals of Durga Puja in West Bengal

• Paata Puja: The preparations for Durga Puja start with ‘Paata Puja,’ performed on the day of Rath Yatra in July. During this ritual, the wooden frame or ‘Paata’ that forms the base for the idols is worshipped.
• Bodhana: This important ritual takes place on Shashthi, the sixth day of the festival. It includes ghatasthapana (invocation of the Goddess) and pranapratistha (consecration of the idol), symbolising the awakening and welcoming of Goddess Durga.
• Adhivasa: Following Bodhana, symbolic offerings are made to Goddess Durga to invoke her blessings.
• Navapatrika Snan: On Saptami, the seventh day, the Navapatrika (a bundle of nine plants symbolising the goddess) is ritually bathed in holy water.
• Sandhi Puja and Ashtami Pushpanjali: Ashtami, the eighth day, is marked by the offering of pushpanjali (floral offerings). Sandhi Puja is performed at the juncture of Ashtami and Navami, a 48-minute ritual involving 108 lotuses, 108 lamps, and offerings of bhog. In some traditions, symbolic animal sacrifices are also made.
• Homa and Bhog: On Navami, the second last day of Durga Puja, a sacred fire ritual (homa) is performed alongside bhog offerings. In some places, Kumari Puja, honouring young girls as manifestations of the Goddess, is also observed.
• Sindoor Khela, Dhunuchi Naach, and Immersion: Vijaya Dashami, the final day of Navratri, is celebrated with married women playing Sindoor Khela, where they smear vermillion on each other to wish for a happy marital life. This day marks Durga’s victory over Mahishasura. The festivities conclude with the energetic Dhunuchi Naach and the immersion of the idols, symbolising the goddess’s return to her celestial home.

Durga Puja Celebrations in New York

In 2024, Durga Puja also made its great debut in New York City at the iconic Times Square. This remarkable two-day event, organized by 'The Bengali Club, USA,' saw a large gathering of Indian Americans who came together to honour their cultural heritage.

It provided a unique opportunity for the community to celebrate Durga Puja with great enthusiasm. Instagram influencer Ruchika Jain shared a video to kick off the festivities, inviting all Indian-Americans to join in the celebration. The influencer shared the event's videos on her Instagram Handle known as Fireflydo.

🚨 Durga Puja at Times Square, New York 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/dsTqktg14d

— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) October 7, 2024

The event began with traditional rituals, including the Nabami Puja and the recitation of Durga Stotras to commemorate the ninth day of the festival. Participants offered their prayers to the beloved Goddess during the Nabami Puja Anjali before moving on to the Dashami Puja, where devotees bid farewell to the Goddess.

One of the highlights of the celebration was the iconic Sindur Khela, a beloved Bengali tradition where married women apply vermilion to one another. This vibrant display of culture captivated scores of onlookers, showcasing the passionate festivities of Durga Puja in the heart of New York City.

The celebration of Durga Puja in Times Square marks a significant milestone in the recognition and appreciation of Bengali culture within the global community. This historic event not only brought together Indian Americans to honour their traditions but also showcased the rich tapestry of Indian festivals to a wider audience. 

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