‘Bodhon, Sandhi Puja & Dhunuchi Nach’ are some Durga Puja rituals Bengalis adhere to a tee (to this day)

If there is one thing the Bengali community has mastered over the years, it is the art of coming up with grand scale Durga Puja celebrations. Aside from cultural giants like Rabindranath Tagore and Satyajit Ray, Durga Puja festival is something Bengalis take pride in.

Bengalis might have a plethora of festive occasions (baaro maaashe tero parbon/13 festivals in 12 months ) but Durgotsav remains the queen bee. The festival is basically a lavish homecoming of sorts, held to commemorate Goddess Durga's return to her father's home or the earthly abode from her husband's (Lord Shiva) home in Mount Kailash.

Durga Puja celebrations consist of many intricate rituals, each of whom has a special significance. Today we explore 10 colourful Durga Puja rituals. Some of them are a bit time-consuming, but they are what make the Puja memorable and most importantly make the celebration period last longer!

Bilva Nimantran

Bilva Nimantran is the first ritual of Durga Puja. Durga Puja celebrations cannot commence without this ceremony. The goddess Durga is invited to the Bilva (bel or wood apple) tree (which signifies her first step into the mortal realm) through an offering of bel leaves. According to the Kalika Purana, Brahma, the God of Creation, invoked the goddess to help Lord Rama defeat Ravana, the king of Lanka. Goddess Durga is said to have appeared in front of Brahma in the form of a bel leaf. Bilva Nimantran typically takes place during Maha Shashti. This year, it is taking place on Saturday, October 1.

Bodhon

This ritual is also known as Akal Bodhon.

According to Krittibash Ojha’s 'Ramayana', Lord Ram started the autumnal worship of Goddess Durga, to get an edge over Ravana, the king of Lanka. Ravan received the patronage of Goddess Kali and became almost indestructible. Lord Ram was then, instructed by Brahma (the God of Creation, in the Hindu pantheon) to worship Goddess Durga in the autumn, at evening.

According to Hindu religious texts, the ideal time of worshipping the goddess was spring. Autumn is considered the season where the ‘devatas’ or Hindu deities go into rest mode. If deities have to be invoked at this time they must be awakened from their sleep. This process is known as ‘Bodhon’.

During this ritual, a water-filled kalash (pot) is kept at the base of the Bel tree. The face of the deity is unveiled. Prayers are offered to the goddess. This is followed by the Amantran and the Adhivas rituals, through which the deity is invited and given a grand welcome. At this stage, married women apply sindoor (vermilion) on their foreheads, don new sarees and welcome the goddess through a glass of gangaajal ( water from the holy Ganges), a couple of paan pata (betel leaves) and supari (betel nuts).

Nabapatrika Snan

If you have ever visited the mandap during the Durga Puja, you might have noticed a banana tree wrapped in a white saree with red borders, placed beside the idol of Lord Ganesha. Some Bengalis call it ‘Kolabou’ (the banana-bride) and it is regarded by many as one of the wives of Lord Ganesha.

But this is actually not one of Ganesha’s wives. It is considered a representation of Goddess Durga. It is also known as ‘Nabapatrika’. Nine plants are tied together to form the nabapatrika, hence the name. Each plant represent the nine forms of the goddess -Brahmani (banana), Kalika (colocasia), Durga (turmeric), Kartiki (jayanti), Shiva (wood apple), Raktadantika (pomegranate), Sokrahita (ashoka), Chamunda (arum) and Lakshmi (paddy).

During the morning of Maha Saptami, the nabapatrika is bathed in the water of the holy Ganges, wrapped in a sari and placed next to Ganesha.

Anjali

This is hands-down, the most popular ritual of Durga Puja. This is the phase where devotees pay homage to Maa Durga through Pushpanjali ( offering of flowers through cupped hands). Pushpanjali or anjali occurs on all three days of the Durga Puja - Saptami, Ashtami and Navami. It is customary to fast before Anjali. Three rounds of floral offering take place, during which the devotees have to chant certain mantras along with the priest.

Kumari Puja

This ritual takes place during Ashtami or the eighth day of the Durga Puja. Although this ritual has gradually fallen out of favour in Kolkata, it is still practised in places like Belur (Howrah), Dhaka, Narayanganj, Barisal, Sylhet, Dinajpur etc (Bangladesh). A prepubescent girl is worshipped as the living incarnation or avatar of Maa Durga. She is dressed in new clothes and dressed up in floral ornaments. This ritual has its origins in the Puranas. Once upon a time there was a diabolical demon king named Kolashur who ruled over heaven and earth. Various devatas got tired of his tyranny and prayed to Goddess Kali to help them. Maa Kali was reincarnated in the form of a young girl. Eventually Kolashur met his end at the hands of the maiden.

Sandhi Puja

This ritual takes place at a transition point between Ashtami and Navami. The last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami are known as ‘Sandhikkhon’. According to the Puranas, this is an auspicious moment in time when Durga manifests into Chamunda. Chamunda is a fierce, indomitable entity, who single-handedly defeated demon duo Sumbha and Nisumbha. 108 lamps are lit to celebrate this momentous occasion. The priests chant mantras and drummers time their beats to the chants.

Dhunuchi Nach

This is one of the most exciting rituals of the Durga Puja. This takes place on Navami or the 9th day of Durga Puja. Clay pots are filled with smoking charcoal. Some people take the pot in their hands and start dancing. The daredevils try to balance the clay pot on their heads. Some who wish to be even more adventurous/risque, attempt to hold the pot through their teeth! Earlier the dhunuchi nach was performed only by men. However nowadays women are also emerging as dhunuchi dance experts.

Sindoor Khela

Traditionally, married women whose husbands are still alive take part in this ritual. The word, sindoor khela translates to a vermilion game. As the name suggests, women play around with various shades of red vermilion powder.

On Dashami, Maa Durga is given a grand farewell before she is immersed in the river water. Married women offer vermilion and sweets to the goddess. After that, they smear each other with vermilion playfully. It is believed that this ritual will bring good fortune for their family and help their husbands live longer.

Bisarjan

This is a bittersweet day. The goddess and her children are taken out of their earthly abode or the pandal for Bisarjan or immersion in the river. This indicates her return to Mount Kailash. Devotees often shout "Asche bocchor abar hobe" (Durga Puja will return next year).

Earlier, the idols were carried on bamboo structures. However, nowadays the idols are transported in a truck to a river bank. Then they are placed in a boat and taken to the middle of the river for immersion.

Bijoya

This marks the end of the festival. Young members of the family touch the feet of the elders to seek blessings. Some hug each other (kolakuli). Sweets such as nolen gurer sandesh, narkeler naru (mounds made of coconut and jaggery) are distributed on this day.