Durga Puja 2023: Date, Puja Timings, History and Significance
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“Maa Durga reminds us of “SHAKTI” within Ourselves to Fight back against adversity and atrocity. Maa Durga emphasizes on the power of courage to not tolerate irrelevance”
Durga Puja is a Hindu festival which is celebrated each year in the month of Ashwin. In Durga Puja, devotees worship Goddess Durga, it is celebrated across India, specifically in eastern states for instance; West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, and Assam.
The last four days of Durga Puja Festival are significantly culminated for Navratri celebrations dedicated to Goddess Durga.
Durga Puja 2023 started late from October 15 to October 24,2023. Shashti will be celebrated on October 20, 2023 and followed by Sapmi on 21st October and Ashtami is on October 22nd, Navmi will be celebrated on October 23, and Vijaya Dashmi is on October 24, 2023.
As per the panchang calendar, Durga Puja celebration will commence from Sashti (October 20th) to Dashami (October 24th) Tithi or the sixth to the tenth day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashwin.
Details of the Important Dates and Auspicious times are mentioned for Durga Puja 2023:
-Shashti:
The celebration of Shashti will commence on October 20th, 2023 at 12:31 am and ends on October 20, 2023 at 11:24 pm.
-Saptami:
The celebration of Saptami will commence on October 20, 2023 at 11:24 pm to October 21, 2023 at 09:53 pm.
-Ashtami:
The celebration will commence on October 21, 2023 at 09:53 pm and ends on October 22, 2023 at 07:58 pm.
-Navmi:
The celebration will commence on October 22, 2023 at 07:58 pm to October 23, 2023 at 05:44 pm.
-Dashami:
The celebration will commence on October 23, 2023 at 05:44 pm to October 24, 2023 at 03:14 pm.
Significance and History of the Durga Puja:
Durga Puja distinguishes a profound significance for hindus across the world. In mythology, the demon Mahishasura attained a boon from Lord Brahma, bestowing him immune to harm from any god or man. He started exploiting his power, destroying the world, anguishing the Gods.
Consequently, all the Gods got united & worshipped Maa Adi Shakti Durga, a deity of the cosmic world. Performing prayers and the essence of devotion collectively emitted a light, gave rise to the Goddess Durga.
The war between the two, Goddess Durga and Mahishasura continued for ten days,
And got victory on the 10th day, which is known as Vijaya Dashami which we celebrate every year. This victory symbolises the essence of good over evil. And on the final day of the festival, devotees immerse Goddess Durga in the water bodies or rivers. Before visarjan or immersion, processions passing through the roads fill the air with the beats of drums, melodious songs and lively dances, celebrating the power of Maa Durga and defeat of evil wrongdoing.
Durga Puja is an example of the belief of the ultimate triumph of righteousness over the abysmal. After the killing of demon mahishasura, Goddess Durga is revered as Mahishasurmardini as she conquered him. The spirit of courage, power, and belief triumphs over atrocity and adversity.