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It is that time of the year when the streets are getting decorated, the city is lit up, even at night. This is the time when the city is getting ready to celebrate Durga Puja, which marks the victory of goddess Durga in her battle against the shape-shifting asura, Mahisasura. This festival is also a reminder that no matter how grave the evil is, the good will win. It also reminds us of the power a woman holds and the need to respect her.
Durga Puja symbolises the end of social evils. In today's time, the shape-shifting Mahisasura fits the definition of social evils. Just like Mahisasura with many shapes, one such is of the Buffaloes, societal evils also come in many shapes. Here is how Durga is killing the modern-day Mahisasura, the societal evils:
Violence Against Women
The country was left shattered and the people were angry with the recent RG Kar rape-murder case in Kolkata. This case brought back the notion that women are not safe anywhere, especially after sundown. However, this year, the timings of Durga Puja are hinting towards the need to stay up post-midnight and to be vigilant and celebrate all women as Durga.
The celebrations begins from the 7th day, which is Saptami and the Puja starts from 6am, whereas the Pushpanjali is at 7am. Every day, the Puja concludes by 8.30am, beginning as early as 6am, which means the preparations begin as late as 3am in the night. For every Puja day, the preparations are supposed to begin post midnight, indicating the need to be awake and attentive. This is how Durga Puja, this year is trying to send a message across people to be awake, attentive and celebrate women, even when it is sundown.
The Mahalaya is also played at 4 am in the morning, which marks a divine hour when Durga arrives on the earth. Even, to mark this celebration of womanhood, the Kolkata Metro has changed its timings and will now operate till 4 am on the North-South line and till 1.45 am on the East-West Metro’s Howrah section on the days of Durga Puja.
Sexism
Durga is worshipped in many different incarnations. It comes from the Shakti sect, which worships woman as the source of power; whether it is goddess Kali or Durga. This ends the notion that women are not powerful.
The katha from Puranas that tells the tale of Goddess Durga killing Mahisasura when no other God could also reinforces the power a woman holds. It reinforces the belief that women can do everything, even when others cannot. It further ends all such stereotypes associated with women.
Moreover, Durga also symbolises the power women hold, this is depicted through the 10 weapons that Maa Durga holds in her 10 hands.
Ma Durga holds a lotus, which stands for awakening of spiritual consciousness in a soul. The thunderbolt symbolises the firmness of spirit in women. The sword portrays the knowledge and intellect women hold. The trident or the Trishul given to Durga by lord Shiva represents purity, desires and inactivity. TheSudarshan Chakra that is given to her by lord Vishnu symbolises the centre of creation, pointing out that it is the woman that creates the humankind. Thus, respecting woman must be of the utmost importance.
Also Read:Behind The Scenes Of Delhi’s Oldest Durga Puja
The conch or the shankh Durga holds symbolises the sound ‘aum‘, again pointing out to the source of creation, drawing parallel to woman being the source of creation of humankind. The spear symbolises as the weapon that destroys negative energies. The bow and arrow that Durga holds represents energy, which helps to destroy difficulties. The snake represents upward movement of intellect, while the flame Durga holds represents the right balance of the world and wisdom.
Dishonesty
The chakra that Durga holds in her hand, which is aSudarshan Chakra, given to her by lord Vishnu also symbolises righteousness. It symbolises that Durga, in modern times, is here to end the dishonesty that has spread in the world like an epidemic.
The katha from the Purana of Durga killing Mahisasura, highlights that how most of us think that a demon is someone with large teeth and eyes and looks terrifying, but it is actually one who lives among us. Like the buffalo, that looked like any other buffalo, but was in fact, Mahisasura, representing the dishonesty in guise of an honest person.
Selfishness
The ‘Manish‘, mentioned in the Puranas, which means buffalo also represents the selfish and self-centred nature. Killing Mahisasura who is in the guise of buffalo symbolises the end of yet another social evil – selfishness. Thus, the nine-day-long navratra and the 4-day long celebration of Durga Puja is a symbol of the end of selfishness.
Discrimination
Durga’s club smashes injustice and judgmental mind. The demon or Mahisasura represents the afflicted ego that humans hold and Devi confronts that arrogance, pride and hypocrisy. It also ensures that discrimination comes to an end. Durga Puja Pandal is one such venue that discriminates against no one. Whatever one is wearing, whatever their religion may be, everyone can walk-in and worship goddess Durga.
What Her Arrival And Departure Represents
The vehicle or vaahan on which Durga arrives and departs represents the current standing of the society. This year, Durga is arriving on a palanquin or a palki. Astrologers believe that the arrival of Goddess Durga in a palanquin is not a positive sign. It represents the economic downfall, the violence and diseases. Rightly so, the numbers speak, so does the cases of violence against women and the recent outbreaks of pandemics, epidemics and other health crisis.
Goddess Durga will be departing on a rooster murga, which is also inauspicious as it symbolises sorrow and suffering, political instability, conflicts, diseases, and instability.
The vaahan, in many cases is considered as a mirror to the society and as an alarm to people to do things the right way and to ensure the restoration of peace and stability.