Durga Puja which is also known as Durgotsav or Sharadiya Durga Puja is a festival wherein people worship Goddess Durga. It is also a festival when Maa Durga arrives on Earth and stays at her maternal home. Durga Puja is celebrated twice every year, once in the month of Chaitra and once in the month of Sharad or Ashvin.
Durga Puja celebrated in the month of Sharad is known as Sharadiya Durga Puja. This is also known as Akal Bodhon; ‘akal’ means untimely and ‘bodhon’ means worship. The word refers to the untimely worship of Maa Durga. Akal Bodhon was initiated by Lord Ram when he worshipped Maa Durga to win the war against Ravaan after he abducted Sita Maa.
Drik Panchang says that the Durga Puja refers to all five days of festivity and these five days are observed as Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijayadashami. Hindu religious texts say that Durga Puja, including Chandi Path, should begin from the next day of Mahalaya Amavasya.
Mahalaya is considered to be one of the most important days. It is a day which marks the end of Pitru Paksha and the next day marks the beginning of Devi Paksha. On the day of Pitru Paksha, people pay homage to their ancestors and the day is not considered to begin any auspicious work.
Mahalaya 2024 Date
This year, Mahalaya will be celebrated on October 2, 2024. This is the last day of Pitru Paksha and it is also known as Sarvapitri Amavasya or Mahalaya Amavasya.
Maa Durga arrives on Earth on the first day of Devi Paksha and she departs on the day of Vijaya Dashami. Drik Panchang says that the weekdays when she arrives and departs are significant and considered an omen of the coming time.
Durga Puja 2024 Dates
- Panchami: October 8, 2024 (Tuesday)
- Shashthi: October 9, 2024 (Wednesday)
- Saptami: October 10, 2024 (Thursday)
- Ashtami: October 11, 2024 (Friday)
- Nabami: October 11, 2024 (Friday)
- Dashami: October 12, 2024 (Saturday)