DEVI DURGA HD

Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata Ministry of Culture, Government of India brings you a documentary on “Devi Durga”. This documentary narrates that in terms of mythology, it is said first Durga puja started thousands of years ago by King Surath. It was also the first in Bengal as well as in India. The process of the creation of clay sculpture-idols (pratima or murti) for the puja, from the collection clay to the ornamentation is a ceremonial process. This documentary has shown the grand festival of Durga Puja from start, means Khuti Puja i.e. prayers to Lord Ganesha and to the perceived divinity in materials such as bamboo frames in which the sculpture-idols are cast to the immersion of Goddess. Durga puja has a very long history and heritage connected to it. The film narrates some age-old Durga pujas of Bengal that began way back to 200 or 300 across Bengal. Goddess Durga became the symbol of strength and divinity who would rescue the nation from the colonial rule. In the beginning of 20th century puja at Belur Math at 1901 by Swami Vivekananda to institutionalize respect for the divinity of Motherhood was started. Depicting the various stages, rituals, role of the various art and artisans, cultural aspects linked to the celebration and also the unbrilled people’s participation that has marked this festival as one of the largest festivals on earth. The tenth and last day of the festival, called Vijaya Dashami is marked by sindoor khela, where women smear sindoor or vermillion on the sculpture-idols and also smear each other with it. This ritual signifies the wishing of a blissful life for married women. Historically the ritual has been restricted to married women. The tenth day is the day when Devi Durga emerged victorious against Mahishasura and it ends with a procession where the clay sculpture-idols are ceremoniously taken to river for immersion. Devi Durga is believed to return to her mythological marital home of Kailash to Shiva and the cosmos in general. People distribute sweets and gifts, visit their friends and family members on the tenth day. The Goddess is immersed and going back to Kailash while people wait for another year for the celebration.