Steem engagement challenge-S12/W6 | "The grand festival in my country."

A Carnival of devotion rituals and belief, a celebration of the spirit of women. Resurgence of what we call godess worship or the important recognition of devine feminine all over the world, definitely eastern religions in Hinduism but also in western religion the so-called patreriacal religion where also have steams of recognition of the devine feminine are being reawaken particularly I think, Judaism and Christianity.

It is celebrated every year with ceremony and splendor accross India but for Bengali community it is the time of the year when their mother goddess descends on earth to restore good. Durga Puja is celebrated across India. In Bengal it's the autumn festival which is the Sharad Durgotsab. The religious festivals of Bengal are the main makers of the passage of time because it is said that in 12 months there are 13 fastivals and the one fastival after another.

In the era before Rama, Chaitra Navani was the most significant time to worship Devi Durga. But the Chaitra Navani shifted to Durga Puja at auspicious Akal Badhon during the Lord Rama. Rama worshipped Devi Durga before going to war with Ravana.

This fastival takes in epic proportions in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal state of India. A muti-day festival of Durga Puja is a religious celebration of goddess Durga. Durga Puja marks the victory of goddess over the demon mahishasur symbolises victory of good over evil.

Her character combines the terror of destruction with the reassurance of motherly tenderness, for her cosmic power, the totality of the universe, a glorious harmony of the pairs of opposites, she deals out death as she creates and preserve. She has three eyes, third being the symbol of devine wisdom, they strike dismay into the wicked yet pour out affection of her devotees. Her ten hands (Dashabhuja) holding weapons or objects, Trishul: Trishul was given by Lord Shiva to Goddess Durga. ...Sudarshan Chakra: The gift from Lord Vishnu to Goddess Durga symbolises the centre of creation. Lotus: ...Bow and Arrow: ...Sword: ...Vajra: ...Spear: ...Snake.

The Asuras know the sanjivani vidya by the grace of their tapasya and every year they rejuvenate or regrow and do harm to people on earth. Therefore like harvest they are cut every year by godess Durga.

Durga set to leave from her Heavenly abode and descent to her home at earth along with her children on a auspicious day of mahalaya, this makes the beginning of Durga Puja.

I'm recommending five oldest Heritage Durga Puja of the City not to miss.

1. Sabarna Roy Choudhury Family (1610) Barisha

2. Raja Nabakrishna Deb Family 261st year old Sovabazar Rajbari, North Kolkata

3. Badan Chandra Roy Family160 year-old Colootola (Central Kolkata)

4. Purnendu Chandra Dhar Family 157 years old, 32A Debendra Mullick Road North Kolkata

5. Khelat Ghosh Family, 47 Pathuriaghata Street, North Kolkata

In case you are further interested in more details, I'm sharing National UNESCO YouTube VIDEO link for your kind reference. Durga Puja of Kolkata had been included in the UNESCO list of Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.