Mahalaya to Dashami

Rituals of the Puja

The rituals of Ruppur Chatterjee Bari Durga Puja, a Vaishnavite family Puja started by Late Shri Krishnalal Chattopadhyay: Sankalpa, idol making, Mahalaya, Bodhon, Nabapatrika snan, Sandhi Puja, Kumari Puja, Darpan Visarjan, Devi Boron and our family's own traditions.

Our family has worshipped Devi Durga for about 145 years. The Puja was started by Late Shri Krishnalal Chattopadhyay, a landlord of Ruppur, and today the fifth generation carries it forward. Of the two traditions of Durga Puja, Vaishnavite and Shakta, we follow the Vaishnavite rituals. Every year the Puja falls in the months of Ashwin and Kartik (as per the Bengali calendar).

Making the pratima

Preparations begin on Nandotsav, the auspicious day right after Shri Krishna Janmashtami. On this day we collect sacred soil from a nearby river, preferably the holy Ganga, mixed with cow dung, cow urine, soil from the doorstep of a brothel, and rice husk.

The skeleton of the idol is made of bamboo and hay. Two layers of soil are applied, and the idol is coloured with biodegradable colours, then dressed in a Banarasi saree, jewellery and daker saaj.

Mahalaya

Mahalaya marks the beginning of Devi Paksha. Bengalis wake up early to listen to Mahishasuramardini on Akashvani Kolkata, first broadcast in 1931. We go to the nearest water body to perform Tarpan, offering water and prayers to our ancestors, whose souls are believed to visit the earth during this period, so that they may find peace and moksha.

Early on this day, family members go to the Ganga ghat for Ganga jol tola: holy Ganga water is filled in large copper pots, tied onto a cart and brought home for the Puja.

Pots of holy Ganga water on the river bank on Mahalaya — Ganga jol tola on Mahalaya: filling the pots with holy Ganga water and tying them onto the cart for the journey home.

Family members tying the pots of Ganga water onto the cart — Ganga jol tola on Mahalaya: filling the pots with holy Ganga water and tying them onto the cart for the journey home.

We also prepare narkel naru (coconut sweets) in two flavours, sugar and jaggery. Only offerings made by our own family members are offered to Devi. Last-minute preparations are checked so that nothing is left out.

Sankalpa

Sankalpa in puja is a solemn, intentional declaration that sets the purpose, scope and results of a ritual. It acts as the mental and verbal commitment binding the worshipper’s mind, the ritual actions, and the deity invoked, so the sacred intention becomes the energetic cause for the desired outcome.

Prathama to Panchami

On Prathama, Devi is worshipped as Shailaputri. At our home the idol is not yet worshipped; instead a ghat (earthen pot) with a coconut is worshipped. Chandi Path is recited by the priest every day. On the following days Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta and Kushmanda are worshipped with similar rituals.

Bodhon and Adhibas — Shashthi

Bodhon (Akaal Bodhon). According to Hindu belief, the gods rest during autumn, so Devi Durga must first be ritually awakened before she can be worshipped at this "untimely" season. A water-filled copper kalash is placed at the base of a bel (wood apple) tree, or a branch of it, where the Goddess's spirit is invited to reside.

Adhibas. Before the main worship begins, the surroundings and the idol are sanctified: the deity and the bel tree are touched with 26 sacramental items.

Nabapatrika Snan — Saptami

At dawn, the Nabapatrika is bathed in a nearby river or pond while the priest chants Vedic mantras. A young banana plant is tied with eight other sacred plants (colocasia, turmeric, jayanti, wood apple, pomegranate, ashoka, arum and rice paddy) using yellow jute thread. Each plant represents a manifestation of Goddess Durga.

At Ruppur Chatterjee Bari, the Nabapatrika is carried to the pond at first light in a small procession, to the beat of the dhak, the call of conch shells and the ulu of the women of the family. The priest bathes the plants with water, milk and other sacred offerings, one after another, as the mantras are chanted.

Kola Bou snan at the water's edge on Maha Saptami — Maha Saptami morning: the Kola Bou is bathed at the water's edge, with the purohit and family attending.

After the bath, the Nabapatrika is draped in a white saree with a red border, smeared with vermilion, and placed on a wooden pedestal to the right of Lord Ganesha. Then Pran Pratishtha is performed, invoking life into the Durga idol. Until this moment only the ghot has been worshipped; from now on Ma is worshipped in the pratima itself, with full rites.

The Kola Bou is often called Ganesha's wife, but she is the goddess herself. The nine plants are nine forms of Durga, from Brahmani in the banana plant to Lakshmi in the rice paddy, and in them the Puja honours the harvest and the earth that feeds the family.

Kola Bou snan at Ruppur Chatterjee Bari — Kola Bou snan at our home on Maha Saptami.

Pushpanjali — Ashtami

Ashtami is the most significant day of the Puja. Devotees fast in the morning and offer flowers and bel leaves to the Goddess for prosperity and the fulfilment of their wishes.

At our Durga temple, family members and visitors gather before the pratima after their morning bath, most of them in new clothes. The priest recites the anjali mantras and everyone repeats them after him, offering flowers and bel leaves three times. The first mantra begins Om Jayanti Mangala Kali Bhadrakali Kapalini, Durga Shiva Kshama Dhatri Swaha Swadha Namostute. Afterwards the flowers are gathered and laid at Ma's feet, and care is taken that no one steps on them.

Many devotees keep their fast until the anjali is over. Following Vaishnavite rituals, the family keeps a vegetarian diet through all the days of the Puja. The time for Ashtami puja and anjali each year is given in the nirghonto.

Sandhi Puja — Ashtami and Navami

The climax of the Puja takes place in the precise 48 minutes when Ashtami ends and Navami begins. It commemorates the moment Goddess Durga manifested as Chamunda to slay the demons Chanda and Munda. 108 earthen lamps are lit and 108 lotus flowers and bel leaves are offered, along with a garland of 108 bel leaves and a chandmala, three circular discs of shola pith symbolising purity, beauty, peace and serenity. In our house, a special bhog of chhena (made from milk) is offered.

108 lotuses prepared for Sandhi Puja — 108 lotuses for Sandhi Puja on Maha Ashtami.

The purohit performs the puja in front of Ma while the 108 lamps burn on banana leaves before her, and the family stands around to watch.

The purohit at Sandhi Puja before Ma, with the 108 lamps burning in front — Sandhi Puja on Maha Ashtami: the purohit worships Ma while the 108 lamps burn in front of her.

Kumari Puja and Hom — Navami

After the Mahasnan and Shodashopachar puja comes Kumari Puja. A young girl between five and eleven years old is worshipped as the Goddess: her feet are washed with milk, alta is applied, and she is offered new clothes and gifts. Then the Navami Hom (Vedic yajna) is performed.

The little Kumari, adorned with flowers, seated for Kumari Puja — Kumari Puja on Maha Navami: the little Kumari is adorned and seated beside Ma, who is worshipped in her. Then the Navami Hom begins.

A devotee bows at the feet of the Kumari — Kumari Puja on Maha Navami: the little Kumari is adorned and seated beside Ma, who is worshipped in her. Then the Navami Hom begins.

As the Puja nears its end, Navami night is made memorable with cultural programmes.

Vijaya Dashami

Dashami is the emotional farewell. It celebrates the Goddess's victory over Mahishasura and her return to Mount Kailash.

In a sabeki family Puja like ours, Vijaya Dashami is special like no other day. The whole family gathers at the Durga temple to bid Ma farewell, with one promise in every heart: asche bochor abar hobe, she will come again next year.

Darpan Visarjan. The priest places a mirror in a large bowl of water. Two more bowls are prepared, one with water and turmeric and one with milk and alta. Devotees look into the three bowls to see the Devi's reflection, as her divine spirit departs from the idol.
Devi Boron. Married women in red-bordered white sarees bid Ma farewell with the boron dala of sweets, paan, sindoor, dhaan and durba. Each of them lovingly circles Ma seven times, then touches sindoor to her forehead and feet and offers her sweets and paan, just as a mother sends off her daughter to her husband's home.

A senior family member circling Ma with a brass pot of water during Devi Boron — Devi Boron on Vijaya Dashami: married women circle Ma seven times, then bid her farewell with sindoor and sweets.

Married women circling Ma seven times during Devi Boron — Devi Boron on Vijaya Dashami: married women circle Ma seven times, then bid her farewell with sindoor and sweets.

Sindoor Khela. After the Boron, married women smear sindoor on each other's foreheads and cheeks and touch it to their shankha and pola, wishing one another a long and happy married life. With laughing, sindoor-red faces all around, it is the most colourful moment of Dashami.

Married women playing Sindoor Khela on Vijaya Dashami — Sindoor Khela after Devi Boron, Vijaya Dashami.

Dhunuchi Naach. Holding clay dhunuchis filled with burning coconut husk and fragrant dhuno (sal resin), family members dance before Ma to the beat of the dhak. The fragrant smoke is one last offering of joy and devotion before she leaves.

Family members dancing with dhunuchis before Ma — Dhunuchi Naach before Ma on Vijaya Dashami, as fragrant dhuno smoke fills the Durga temple.

Family members dancing with dhunuchis in a haze of dhuno smoke — Dhunuchi Naach before Ma on Vijaya Dashami, as fragrant dhuno smoke fills the Durga temple.

Bishorjan. The idol is carried in a procession, to the beat of the dhak, to a nearby river or pond for immersion.
Bijoya greetings. After the immersion, everyone exchanges Shubho Bijoya. The young touch the feet of their elders, and traditional sweets such as naru and nimki are shared.

Traditions unique to our home

Bhog. Bhog is offered on Saptami, Ashtami and Navami, with a different lentil each day: moong on Saptami, chana on Ashtami and arhar on Navami. With it come rice khichuri, fried vegetables, vegetable curry, and payesh with small banana fritters soaked in it. A special mochar ghonto, made from banana stem and banana flower, is also offered. At night, luchi and narkel naru are offered.
Aparajita armbands. On Dashami morning, after Darpan Visarjan, all the male members of the family wear butterfly-pea (Aparajita) vines as armbands, and the vines are tied around children's wrists for long life and protection. Devi Aparajita is revered as a fierce form of Devi Durga.
"Shri Shri Durga Mata Sahay." After the immersion, we write these words on a banana leaf with a bel twig, using alta as ink, and place it reverently on Devi Durga's altar.
A vegetarian Puja. Following Vaishnavite rituals, the family strictly avoids non-vegetarian food for the ten days of the Puja, and breaks the fast with fish or mutton on the eleventh day.