Bengalis around the world are counting days to wake up to the beats of ‘dhaak’ as Durga puja is almost here — to be celebrated from October 20 to 24. The smell of ‘shiuli’ or coral jasmine and the sight of white fields filled with kans grass surrounds Bengal, everyone is ready to welcome the festival with fervour.
Every lane is lit up and everyone wears new clothes to welcome their homegirl, Goddess Durga. However, Durga puja is much more than this! A set of rituals are performed each day, starting from Shashthi-the sixth day of Navarati to Dashami or Dussehra.
If you visit a Durga puja pandal in Kolkata, you will find a tree dressed up as a new bride standing right beside lord Ganesha. This tree is known as Navapatrika, which means nine leaves of the tree, symbolising the nine forms of Goddess Durga.
On Saptami (the seventh day of Durga puja), Navapatrika is washed in the Ganges and carefully draped in a red and white saree. It is then carried by a priest on the shoulder or carefully placed on a palanquin. This marks the start of Durga Puja.
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Navapatrika comprises nine plants: banana, colocasia, turmeric, jayanti, bel, pomegranate, ashoka, arum, and paddy. Each of these plants holds unique significance and properties. This ritual signifies the nine forms of Goddess Durga. When bound together with vines, they collectively form the female idol representing Navapatrika.
Durga Puja is celebrated at the beginning of the autumn season each year. Many suggest that the navapatrika represents the grain God, and the ritual marks the beginning of the agricultural season. With the sound of dhaak, people welcome the agricultural season and seek blessings from Goddess Durga.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
First Published: Oct 6, 2023 5:27 PM IST
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