Sanatani ( Hindu’s) Instal Durga Idols under Puja Pandals At Dozens Of Places In The District

By Editor in Chief On Sep 28, 2025

PRAYAGRAJ: On the Panchami date of Sharadiya Navratri, idols of Goddess Durga were installed in more than a dozen pandals of Durga Puja committees across the city. In Barwari Ashok Nagar, Darbhanga, Colonelganj, Tagore Town, Govindpur, Allenganj, City Barwari, Netanagar, Krishnanagar, Preetnagar, George Town, and Katra, along with more than a dozen other pandals, the idols of Goddess Durga were kept covered.

On Sunday, during Shashthi Puja, the idols were unveiled amidst chanting of mantras. After that, beside the idol of the Goddess adorned with weapons, the ritual establishment of the sacred kalash (vessel) will be performed.

From Saturday afternoon, after 2 pm, the celebrations of Durga Puja by various committees began. With musical bands and processions, members of the Bengali community enthusiastically carried the idols of the Goddess on vehicles to their respective pandals.

Until late evening, idols continued to be placed in the pandals with Bodhan (ritual invocation).In pandals of Tagore Town, Mirapur, Shahganj, and Ashok Nagar, invocation was performed not only for Goddess Durga but also for her entire family.

Organisers informed that on Sunday, the program of kalash-sthapana (sacred pot installation) will be conducted by a Bengali priest. Abhinna Varshney, General Secretary of Katra Barwari, said that the Shashthi Puja was held on Sunday at 10 am.

Importance of Durga Puja in Sanatani (Hindu) Dharma

Durga Puja is one of the most significant festivals in the Sanatani (Hindu) tradition, celebrated with immense devotion and grandeur, particularly in Eastern India (West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Tripura) but also across the country and globally where Hindus reside. Its importance can be understood on several levels:

1. Mythological Significance

According to the Devi Mahatmya (a scripture within the Markandeya Purana), Goddess Durga was created by the combined energies of the gods—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—to defeat the buffalo demon Mahishasura, who could not be killed by any man or god.
Durga embodies Shakti (the divine feminine power), who restored cosmic balance by destroying evil and protecting dharma (righteousness).
Thus, Durga Puja celebrates the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and truth over falsehood.

Spiritual and Religious Importance

The festival coincides with Sharadiya Navratri, nine nights dedicated to the worship of the divine feminine in her various forms.
Devotees fast, pray, chant mantras, and perform rituals such as Bodhan (invocation of the goddess), Kalash Sthapana (sacred vessel installation symbolizing divine presence), and Sandhi Puja (special worship at the junction of Ashtami and Navami).
For Sanatanis, Durga is not just a deity but the ultimate mother figure (Jagat Janani), representing both love and ferocity. Her worship renews faith, removes negativity, and brings spiritual strength.

Cultural and Social Dimensions

Particularly among Bengalis, Durga Puja is the largest annual cultural event—pandals (themed pavilions) are erected, idols are artistically sculpted, and music, dance, drama, and community feasts (bhog) bring people together.
In many regions, the festival also symbolizes homecoming: Goddess Durga is believed to visit her parents’ house on Earth along with her children (Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartikeya, and Ganesha), creating an atmosphere of warmth and familial joy.

Why Hindus Celebrate with Extreme Devotion and Reverence

Durga Puja is not just a ritual but an emotional, spiritual, and cultural anchor. For Hindus, it is a reaffirmation of their age-old belief in the cyclical battle between good and evil, and the assurance that divine power always protects righteousness.
The goddess is worshipped as the universal mother who nourishes, protects, and empowers her devotees. This deep maternal connection invokes extreme devotion and reverence.
The timing in Sharad Ritu (autumn season) also connects it with harvest cycles, gratitude, and renewal of life, giving the festival an added agrarian and seasonal significance

Here’s an expanded note including a comparative perspective between Durga Puja (mainly in Eastern India) and Navratri celebrations in North and Western India, along with the previous content for context.

Durga Puja vs Navratri Celebrations Across India

While Durga Puja and Navratri share the central theme of worshipping the divine feminine (Shakti), their observances, rituals, and cultural expressions vary regionally:

Geographical & Cultural Focus

Durga Puja (Eastern India, especially Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand):
- Focuses primarily on Goddess Durga and her victory over Mahishasura.
- The festival spans five days (Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, Vijayadashami).
- Pandals with artistic idols and thematic decoration are central; community feasts (bhog), cultural programs, and processions are key features.
- Emphasis on family reunion, social bonding, and cultural artistry.
Navratri (North & Western India, especially Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra):
- Nine nights of fasting, prayers, and devotion to different forms of Goddess Durga or other aspects of Shakti.
- Emphasis on dance and music, especially Garba and Dandiya Raas in Gujarat, which are both devotional and social activities.
- Rituals may include recitation of scriptures, daily fasting, and worship at home or local temples rather than large community pandals.
- Vijayadashami (Dussehra) often culminates with Ramlila performances and effigy burning of Ravana, symbolizing the victory of Lord Rama over evil, integrating epic narrative into celebration.

Ritual Differences

Eastern India (Durga Puja):
- Rituals such as Bodhan (invocation), Kalash Sthapana (sacred vessel installation), Sandhi Puja, and immersion (Visarjan) of the idol at the end are central.
- Goddess is worshipped along with her family (Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartikeya, Ganesha), highlighting domestic and divine familial aspects.
North/West India (Navratri):
- Emphasis on fasting, chanting, and dance.
- Less focus on grand idol artistry; home shrines and temple worship dominate.
- Some regions focus on Goddess Durga, others on Goddess Amba or forms like Kali, Katyayani, or Annapurna, depending on local tradition.

Community Engagement & Cultural Significance

In Durga Puja, pandals serve as cultural hubs with exhibitions, art, music, drama, and community feasts, making it both a spiritual and socio-cultural festival.
In Navratri, especially in Gujarat and Maharashtra, Garba/Dandiya nights promote community interaction, devotion through rhythmic movement, and joyful participation across generations.

Core Commonality

Both celebrate the divine feminine, symbolize the victory of good over evil, and strengthen faith in dharma.
Both festivals integrate ritual, devotion, art, and social bonding, but the form and expression differ regionally, reflecting India’s diverse spiritual and cultural landscape.

Durga Puja in Eastern India is deeply devotional, artistic, and social, centering on Goddess Durga and her family, while Navratri in North and Western India emphasizes fasting, dance, and enactment of epic tales. Both embody the same spiritual ethos: reverence for Shakti, celebration of righteousness, and communal joy.

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