Rituals of Durga Puja
Durga Puja is one of the most auspicious and grandly celebrated festivals which is marked by various rituals and customs, especially in West Bengal. The nine days of Navratri mark the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil Mahisasur. It is a popular belief among Bengali people that during this time Maa Durga arrives on earth and bestows every household with her blessings. The significance of Durga Puja is omnipresent across India, however, nothing matches the level of celebrations in West Bengal. To enhance the grandeur of this festival, most people follow many rituals that we will discuss today! 1- Pushpanjali The first ritual on our list is Anjali which is done on Ashtami, in this ritual priests perform rites to worship Goddess Durga and everyone else pays their tribute by Puspanjali. This basically means to offer the leaves of bel and fragrant flowers on the feet of the goddess. It is usually done in the morning, for which everyone bathes, dresses nicely, and participates in th...