Durga Puja 2024: Date and Schedule with Significance and Rituals in Assam

Festival Durga Puja 2024 is a celebration of the core and emotions of millions of Bengalis as well as people of India and across the world. Traditionally and religiously oriented festival of Durga Puja marks the victory of the goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura as a victory of devils. Each and every year, during the preparation of grand celebrations cities get decorated, music fills the streets, and communities rejoice in devotion, creativity, and happiness. Be it the clay-made Durga idols, the crowded markets or the mouth-watering food stalls Durga Puja 2024 will be a splendid sight of tradition, devotion and joy that will be in mouth for the weeks. Welcome you all to this blog as we go through what we consider to be the historical background, celebrations and some of the most colourful practices associated with the Durga Puja season.

Maa Durga’s Vahana: 

In the mythology of Hindu tradition, the selection of the goddess's vehicle, also known as vahana, is of great significance as it indicates certain powers, qualities or the function that the goddess is expected to perform. The lion or tiger is Maa Durga’s vahana signifying valour, might and authority. This specific vehicle symbolizes the aspect of her personality which is that of a mother who is a warrior and a protector ready to vanquish evil.

As per the tale, she was built egregiously by all and every God, with primary intention to slay Mahisura the demon. The lion offers her as well, emphasizing her power to pacify ferocious elements hence being able to guard her followers and defeat any burdens that stand in the way. Additionally, the lion symbolizes Dharma, or righteousness, which she protects, revealing that her power is only utilized to ensure equilibrium and fairness.

Arrival of Navratri Maa Durga:

In the customs of Hindu society, the timing of Durga’s arrival during the Durga Puja of Navratri festival is of great importance considering the animal that accompanies her in a pictorial representation. The animal that she comes in when she is about to descend to Earth (Mahalaya), the interpretation of this animal, informs the devotees about the good or bad that the period to come would be for them. The various vehicles and their respective implications are:

1. Gaja: 

Whenever Maa Durga comes upon an elephant, it is a sign of plenty, riches and a good crop bear. This is seen as a positive indication that there are good days ahead particularly concerning the rainy season and growing of crops which are very important to farming communities.

2. Ashwa:

When she comes on a horse, this definitely speaks of war, rage and turbulence. It hints at the impending turbulence complete with disasters, violence, and even wars. There is the connotation of swiftness and ferocity with the horse which elicits a sense of preparedness. As it is considered that after durga puja 2024, we will be prone to watch all these.

3. Nauka: 

When the boat is used by Maa Durga, it carries blessings and fertility. It signifies auspiciousness and ease of going through changes without catastrophes occurring especially those related to water and floods. The boat embodies the thought of overcoming hindrances in a calm manner.

4. Mahisha:

Mounting on a buffalo, which is linked to Yama (the presiding deity of death), denotes possible madness, sickness, or calamity. This mode is interpreted as a signal of things to come that are likely to be characterized by famine and other scourges.

5. Doli/Palki:

It is said that when she descends in a doli, it ushers in plague or sickness. This posture is regarded as only favorable to people who read omens to predict the weather and seasons for planting and harvesting crops without diseases.

As per Drik Panchang, in Durga Puja 2024, Goddess Durga will come on a doliwayak (A palanquin) during Shardiya Navratri starting from Thursday, October 3;

Such entries are considered ominous by those who believe bringing the goddess on a palanquin brings economic downturn, violence spirals, and pandemics.

Dusshera marks the end of the Navratri festival on Saturday, October 12, 2024. Goddess Durga will go to her in-law's house in Charanayuddha (horse) on this day.

When is Durga Puja 2024?

This year Mahalaya was on the date of 2nd October. Durga Puja in 2024 presents a peculiar cosmideneses of dates which is another cake on the frosting of the celebration. In the year, both Ashtami and Navami, the auspicious days are celebrated on the same day, on Friday, the 11th day of October. Such instances are very rare or rather it has been quite some years since occurrence such as this has happened amidst the enthusiastic energies of the devoted worshipers who uphold both days. The next day comes the Dashemi, also known as Vijaya Dashami, on Saturday the 12th of October where the celebration of Durga Puja is close as it is the day when Maa Durga departs to her heavenly place. Also the pattern of dates is treated well as a very positive sign and the devotees are busy making elaborate arrangements to celebrate the goddess’s glory,  her conquest of the forces of evil and seeking her assurance of well being and abundance. With this rare combination of days, one guarantees that Durga Puja 2024 will be a beautiful and blessed event looking forward to God’s protection. 

Durga Puja 2024 Dates: 

Traditional Rituals and Practices in Assam’s Durga Puja: 

In Assam, the festival of Durga puja is characterized by its unique rituals and cultural heritage, with some regional variations as well. These are outlined below – 

1. Nabapatrika:

In Assam, Durga Puja sometimes also involves the worship of the Nabapatrika, which consists of nine varieties of plants each representing a goddess. These plants are bathed in the river or pond early in the morning and kept next to Durga’s idol, who is the very spirit of these plants.

2. Kumari Puja: 

Young girls are worshipped in the Kumari Puja rite, which usually takes place on the Ashtami (eighth day), since they represent clarity, neatness, and spiritual chastity. This bears resemblance to the goddess to that of an innocent, unclad child who, however, possesses the murderous potency to fight off all evil.

3. Aarti with Traditional Instruments: 

In this case, the sounds of the dhak, dhol, kartal and sankha all included in every aarti performed by the people. The rhythm within the music is intense and spiritual, embodying both cultural and religious facets.

4. Immersion (Bisorjon): 

In Dashami, devotees take the Durga idol in a procession to the banks with bhajans and folk songs sung while doing so, before the idol gets immersed or submerged. This occurrence also denotes the end of the festival as the goddess departs and returns back to her husband’s palace in heaven, bringing good tidings of prosperity and harmony.

5. Traditional Assamese Cuisine: 

Devotees and congregations also offer combined traditional Assamese input or cuisine. There are foods like funnel cake (jalebi), sweet curd ( mishti doi), etc.

Popular Durga Puja 2024 Pandals to Visit in Assam: 

Spectacular and artistic Durga Puja 2024 pandals to visit in Assam are as follows which have their own themes of representation.

1. Guwahati: 

In a theme at Durga Puja 2024, at Chatribari Devpujasthan organized for the health care workers, their safety concerns were addressed, referring to the RG Kar Hospital fire incident in Kolkata. A pandal by the Azad Hind Club in Maligaon replicating Macau's Grand Lisboa hotel made of glasses looks splendid. On the other hand, Assamese and Bengali literature festivals are held by the Kalibari Puja Committee using facsimiles of famous books written by Rabindranath Tagore and Lakshminath Bezbaruah.

2. Silchar: 

As stewards of these towering structures, some pandals to watch out for in Durga Puja 2024  are: Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama – This pandal has an Idol, which replicates the original idol at Belur Math, Kolkata. The Apanjon Durga Puja Committee of Bilpar uses a strain of London Bridge and the Kalabari Road Puja Committee had a combination of the Victoria Memorial and Amarnath Caves themes.

3. Nagaon: 

The Dugdugu Durga Puja Committee also promotes sports: there are Olympic medalists who are celebrated so that young people in Assam can imitate them. Even lifelike portraits of Borgohain and Neeraj Chopra are exhibited as the focal point at the home.

Not only loud, but these pandals serve as a wonderful source of illumination regarding social issues and extremism localized within respective cultures. A nice initiative taken by the committee in Durga Puja 2024. 

4. Tinsukia: 

For the occasion of Durga Puja 2024, some of the pujas like Purbanchal, Nau- pukhuri are worth watching. In Purbanchal, they are promoting the traffic rules whereas in Nau- Pukhuri they are making the whole costume and everything of the Murti with aluminium. 

5. Duliajan: 

There is a grand Puja pandal in the AASU office with the theme of books. This pandal is made with a commendable theme. 

Conclusion: 

The Durga Puja 2024 will be a colorful extravaganza brimming with cultural values, spirituality, and social aspects. This year’s festival invites families and communities to celebrate the supreme goddess Durga with gusto and devotion. Whether it is performing the puja, feasting on mouth-watering delicacies, or immersing oneself in cultural activities, it is that time of the year to embrace gaiety, culture, and togetherness that is Durga Puja. Let’s forget about the stress and strain of everyday life and soak up the joy that the festival of Durga Puja brings in as the goddess comes down to earth to shower blessings on her devotees.

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