An overview of Durga Puja 2024, including dates, stories, and celebrations
A festival such as Durga Puja is not just a celebration; it is an emotion that sweeps throughout entire regions, especially Bengal, where the festive spirit is unmatched. Due to its grandeur of devotion, creativity, and cultural resonance, Durga Puja has become one of India’s most awaited annual celebrations due to its grandeur of devotion, creativity, and cultural resonance. Since devotees are anxiously anticipating Durga Puja 2024, it is the perfect time to learn about its traditions, significance, and timeline.
The start and end dates of Durga Puja 2024
A celebration of Durga Puja 2024 is scheduled to begin on Friday, October 11, 2024, and culminate on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. The festival lasts for five days, beginning with Shashthi (the sixth day) and concluding on Vijaya Dashami (the tenth day). In the days preceding these five days, there are preparations taking place as well as the arrival of the Goddess Durga’s idol in the pandals.
It is important to note that the preparations for those who celebrate this festival on a grander scale begin much earlier, as they are able to install towering, artistically sculpted idols of Goddess Durga and her entourage, including Lord Ganesha, Lord Kartikeya, Goddess Saraswati, and Goddess Lakshmi, much earlier. A large number of worshippers attend these idols because they are placed in elaborate pandals.
In 2024, how many days are there to celebrate Durga Puja?
Durga Puja 2024 is celebrated over five main days, however the broader festivities may last up to ten days, depending on regional customs. The festival of Mahalaya is a week before the formal start of Durga Puja, and marks the invocation of the goddess. By having cultural events, food stalls, and community engagements take place before the official Shashthi day, the celebrations feel longer and more inclusive.
It is important to note that every single day from Shashthi to Dashami is blessed with a special religious significance. The spiritual essence is combined with social celebration, making it a perfect blend of spirituality and joy.
Why is Durga Puja celebrated?
As a symbol of the triumph of good over evil, Durga Puja honors the victory of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. The Goddess Durga is revered within Hinduism as being a symbol of feminine power, which is known as Shakti. It symbolizes protection and righteousness by having multiple arms, each carrying a weapon. The festival also symbolizes the transition from autumn to winter, which ties spirituality together with nature as well.
In addition to its religious significance, Durga Puja is also a time when people celebrate art, culture, and community bonding. The ornamental pandals, the elaborate costumes, and the vibrant public processions all serve as a visual reminder of India’s rich heritage.
During Durga Puja, what is the significance of the 10th day?
It is highly symbolic and emotional to celebrate Vijaya Dashami, the 10th day of Durga Puja. It is believed on this day that Goddess Durga has returned to her celestial abode, marking the occasion by immersing her idol in water bodies. The Visarjan process is a grand celebration in which devotees bid farewell to the goddess with much pomp and fervor in anticipation of her return the following year.
It is also symbolic of the triumph of good over evil, since the goddess represents justice and peace. Socially, it also marks the start of a new journey as people embrace positivity and remove negativity from their lives.
What is the significance of Durga Puja being celebrated in October?
The main reason why Durga Puja is celebrated in October is because it coincides with the Sharad Navaratri, which is a nine-night festival that honors Goddess Durga in India. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, the Ashwin month falls between September and October, and this season is considered a significant point in Hindu mythology, since it marks the return of the goddess after her battle with Mahishasura, and represents her victory.
October in Bengal is renowned as a month of festivities, as the monsoons have subsided, the clear skies usher in the cool autumn breeze, and the cultural and historical significance of this seasonal event makes it the perfect time of year for Durga Puja.
Date of Durga Puja
According to the Hindu lunar calendar, Durga Puja dates vary annually, but in 2024, the following dates are significant:
- Shashi (Start): October 11, 2024 (Friday)
- Saptami: October 12, 2024 (Saturday)
- Ashtami: October 13, 2024 (Sunday)
- Navami: October 14, 2024 (Monday)
- Vijaya Dashami (End): October 15, 2024 (Tuesday)
The celebration of Durga Puja in India in 2024
In spite of the fact that Durga Puja is celebrated across the country, it is celebrated especially in the states of West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand, as well as some parts of Maharashtra and Delhi. Each region adds its own flavor to the celebration, with Bengal’s style still being considered to be the most distinctive.
A celebration of Durga Puja is expected to be even more special in 2024, in light of the fact that it occurred after years of scaled down festivities due to the pandemic. The grandeur of Durga Puja is set to return with larger crowds, more artistic pandals, and a renewed sense of devotion and joy.
Durga Puja Kab Hai?
According to the question “Durga Puja kab hai?”, Durga Puja will take place on October 11, 2024 and will last until October 15, 2024.
Why Durga Puja is Celebrated in Bengal
Bengali culture and spirituality are deeply rooted in Durga Puja, which originated in the Mughal era when wealthy landlords, or zamindars, would organize large-scale Durga Pujas in order to show their devotion as well as demonstrate their authority. As Durga Puja gained popularity and became more accessible to the general public, it became a festival that focused on the community as a whole.
There is a special reverence given to Durga as the daughter of Bengal, and her arrival is symbolic of homecoming. Bengalis celebrate Durga Puja (Durga Puja) as the homecoming of Maa Durga (mother Durga), invoking the emotions of love, protection, and familial ties.
Which state celebrates Durga Puja as its main festival?
In West Bengal, the Durga Puja festival is a major celebration, but it is also celebrated with much enthusiasm in other states like Assam, Tripura, and parts of Odisha. West Bengal, particularly Kolkata, is considered the cultural hub of this festival. It has become world-famous for its magnificent pandal decorations, its artistic creativity, and the large-scale community celebrations that take place during the festival.
It is worth noting that UNESCO has recognized Durga Puja in Kolkata as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, making it one of only a few festivals worldwide to be granted this distinction.
The story of Durga Puja
In the legend behind Durga Puja, there is an epic battle between Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura. As a result of his penances, Mahishasura gained a boon from Lord Brahma that made him virtually invincible. He terrorized all three worlds, creating havoc and distress, and in a desperate attempt to defeat him, the gods prayed to the Divine Mother for help.
In the end, Durga was created as a powerful goddess with ten arms, each carrying a weapon that had been bestowed upon her by the gods by their collective energies. She was ultimately successful in defeating Mahishasura, restoring peace to the world after a fierce battle. This divine intervention is the main reason that Durga Puja is celebrated, commemorating the triumph of good over evil.
Frequently Asked Questions
A celebration of Durga Puja 2024 is scheduled to take place between October 11 and October 15.
Generally, Durga Puja is celebrated for five days, but it can last for a week, including Mahalaya, which is an extension of the celebration.
An important part of the Durga Puja is celebrating the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
There is a Bengali festival called Durga Puja, where Goddess Durga is revered as the protector and daughter of Bengal, and celebrated as an annual cultural and religious event.
On the 10th day, known as Vijaya Dashami, Durga Puja ends with the immersion of Durga’s idol in a body of water, which marks the end of Durga Puja.
The Hindu lunar calendar aligns Durga Puja with the Sharad Navaratri, which falls around the end of October, and marks the transition from autumn to winter, as it signifies the beginning of the new year.