Durga Puja Celebrations
Durga Puja, London, United Kingdom Source: Moushumi Chakraborty Durga Puja is a Hindu festival which honours Goddess Durga. Durga, a slayer of demons, is considered to be a form of shakti of Shiva. Originally a tribal deity, over time she was adopted into the broader Brahamanical fold. The name of the goddess means "Inaccessible" or "She Who is Difficult to Approach". As per mythology, she was created by gods (the trimurti or trinity gods - Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva and the lesser gods of the Puranic Hinduism), fully formed as a warrior to fight against a demon named Mahishasura who threatened the power of the gods and the order of creation. She killed the demon after fighting a fierce battle. She is depicted with eight or ten arms, carrying weapons provided to her by the gods. It is to mark this significant victory over evil, the festival of Durga Puja is celebrated. I t is primarily celebrated in the eastern part of India in West Bengal, Bihar,...