Maha Shoshti

In Treta Yug, before the beginning of his onslaught on Lanka, Rama performed Durga Puja in Autumn. This is the time of Dakhshinayana- Sun’s Southward journeys and according to Puranas God sleeps during this time. So Rama had to first wake up the Goddess Durga. On this day he began his premature awakening or Akal Bodhan of Maa Durga.

Sasthi is the sixth day of Devi Paksha and marked the formal beginning of Durga Puja in Bengal. In Bangladesh, there are four rituals- Kalparamvo (the beginning of the Pujas), Bodhan (the consecration of Ma Durga’s idol), Amantran (inviting the Goddess), and Adhivas (sanctifying the stay of the Goddess in the puja area of the pandals) – are performed on Sasthi. The ‘Bodhon’ rituals include the unveiling of the face of the idol. Bodhon, Amontron and Adibas are the important rituals of Sasthi apart from Kalparambho.

But Bengalis believe that on the day of Sasthi Uma(Goddess Durga), who is identified with Parvati the divine consort of Shiva comes to the home of her father from her husband’s place with her four Children- Ganesha, Kartika, Laxmi, and Saraswati. This is why all the ladies participate in the setting up of the Durga Ghat before the idol on Sasthi. They are formally welcoming Uma as a daughter on her arrival for three day trip to his father’s house.

Puja at Durgabari :  7pm

Anjali :  8 pm