Durga Puja in our Campus

Durga, in Sanskrit means "She who is incomprehensible or difficult to reach." Goddess Durga is a form of Sakti worshiped for her gracious as well as terrifying aspect. Mother of the Universe, she represents the infinite power of the universe and is a symbol of a female dynamism. The manifestation of Goddess Durga is said to emerge from Her formless essence and the two are inseparable.

She is also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Ambika, and Kali. In the form of Parvati, She is known as the divine spouse of Lord Shiva and is the mother of Her two sons, Ganesha and Karttikeya, and daughter Jyoti. Destroyer of demons, she is worshiped during an annual festival called Durga puja, especially popular among Bengalis.

Artisans from Calcutta come here to Bangalore and make the idol which is one piece of work and not different idols. We have Lord Ganesha on the left and Lord Karthikeyan on the right. We also have Lakshmi and Saraswati on both sides of Lord Durga.

Singing, dancing and distribution of sweets is a major part of the festival. All the Bengalis are dressed in their traditional dress (white and red sari for the ladies) for the puja. The khichidi they distribute is delicious.

Going into the pandal and looking at the Goddess gives one a sense of awe and wonderment. The whole atmosphere is charged.

The decoration on the Goddess and other Gods is the upper layer taken from sugarcane, it is eco-friendly and dissolves in the water.

The sad part of the festival comes when the time comes for Goddess Durga to be immersed. It is called 'bisorjon'. It is very interesting when the priest in a tray of water keeps a mirror and we can see the image of Goddess in it. It is basically that the immersion has happened and what is left is only the physical idol of the Goddess which is immersed in water later. I have seen the pain and tears in the eyes of the people who had got so much involved in the puja, they just could not watch the Goddess leaving though knowing well that she would return next year.