Goddess Shakti

Durga Puja the most important festival in the regions of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and other eastern Indian States. Besides being one of 'The largest festival in the world' it is also 'The largest open air art exhibition in the world'.

 What you don't know about Durga puja ?

The subaltern version of the story says that the army of the “devas” or Aryan gods came down along with Durga and waited with baited breath for seven days around the palace of Mahisasura, for success of the “mission”. Mahisasura, unaware of the ulterior motives of the beautiful lady, informed about the arrival of Durga to his family and welcomed her. However, according ot the Asur legend, Durga went into a sexual relationship with Mahisasura for seven days and finally, stabbed him to death with a dagger. The story says she drank liquor to her heart’s content before the murder.

The waiting devatas then descended on the palace and slayed the Asuras mercilessly. After the murder of their valiant king Mahisasura, the Asuras gathered on a full-moon might of Ashwin, a month in the Hindu calendar, to mourn the death of their king Mahisasura. “Ashwin Purnima”, the full-moon day of the Ashwin month falls five days after “Dashami”, the tenth and final day of Durga Puja.

That day fell on October 9 this year and was celebrated as “Mahisasura martyrdom day” in many parts of India. However, Mahisasura martyrdom day was observed as “Hudur Durga” six days before on October 3 in Purulia district of West Bengal, a state where Durga Puja is almost synonymous with “Bengali culture”.

This first-of-its-kind observance in Bengal also shows a marked shift in Bahujan assertion in a state where Durga Puja, which was initially a festival of the upper-caste zamindar families of undivided Bengal, has become synchronous with the blatant homogenization of the vastly heterogenous Bengali culture. Durga Puja was first celebrated in Dinajpur Rajbari in present-day Bangladesh in the 14th century. Since then, the celebration has transformed from a “landlord’s festival” to a community one. However, despite this seeming homogenization, most of the Durga Puja committees in the paras or localities of the state, which are responsible for conducting the Durga Puja, are dominated by the upper caste Kayasthas and Brahmins.

The slaying of Asuras by the devas might be an “ancient truth” that the ‘Savarnas’ have conveniently made us forget. “During Durga Puja, the Asur tribe in Jharkhand, lock themselves up in their houses during the day and come out in the night to mourn the death of their king, Mahisasura. They fear that if they come out during the day, the devas would slay them,” according to an Oct 2 report in the Ranchi edition of the Hindustan Times.This provides a basis to the myth of the Asur community. 

The Asur tribe, first people in ancient India to discover iron, consider themselves to be descendants of Mahisasura and Ravan. They presently reside in Latehar, Gumla, Lohardaga, Palamu, Khunti and some parts of Simdega districts of Jharkhand.

Durga Puja in the 21st Century:

       
          "Despite falling rupee, rising inflation and slowdown in the economy, the large business industries are targeting high profits margins during Durga Puja in West Bengal which is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 35 percent," revealed a latest survey by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).Making public its recent paper on "West Benga cashing in on Durga Puja celebrations", the ASSOCHAM said the cost of organising the puja has increased as much as over 30 percent compared to last year due to hike in the materials used."The current size of the Durga Puja industry is about Rs.25,000 crore, and is likely to touch Rs.40,000 crore by 2015 with its annual growth rate of 35 percent," it said.As per the estimates, the pandal  industry is expected to touch Rs.500 crore in 2013 from Rs.350 crore in 2012, by growing at the same rate of 35 percent this year."About 10,000 Durgapuja pandal come up every year. The average expenditure of organisers is expected to go up by 20 percent this year owing to the surging inflation," says the paper."The total expenses have increased by 20 percent due to appreciation in all expenses from artists conceptualizing the theme to labour constructing the pandals to cost of idols, transportation, price of puja offerings and charge of dhakis (drummers)."The entertainment companies as well as organisations in the lighting and decoration business seize the opportunity and often also see more than 35 percent growth in total turnover compared to other times, says ASSOCHAM.Every year, over 20,000-30,000 idols are prepared across Kolkata. As per the estimates, the cost of raw materials for making the idols have also gone up by almost 15-20 percent this year."Due to the rising inflation, the prices of raw materials like clay, paint, clothes, ornaments etc are on the rise which has raised the total cost. It is being found that the cost of preparing idol has also increased between Rs.60,000 and Rs.5 lakh.The food and beverage industry is anticipated to do an additional business of Rs.50-60 crores during the festive season."The demand for items for the puja such as lightings, flowers, flooring etc has already started increasing and is expected to increase this year by 20 percent compared to last year."As per the ASSOCHAM findings, Durga Puja will also increase the profit margins of micro, small and medium enterprises.