Ramayana
How Durga Puja of Bengalis turned into a social festival
How Durga Puja of Bengalis turned into a social festival
The biggest festival of Bengali Hindus is Durga Puja. Usually the five-day festival begins on the sixth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Ashwin, from Shashthi to Dashami. These five days are known respectively as Durga Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami. This year Durga Puja began with Maha Shashthi on 28 September. Maha Saptami was on 29 September, Maha Ashtami on 30 September, Maha Navami on 1 October and the immersion of the idols will take place on Bijoya Dashami, 2 October, marking the end of the celebrations.