WHY DURGA PUJO IS AN EMOTION FOR BENGALIS?

Durga Pujo is not just a festival, it is an emotion, a way of life, and an inseparable part of Bengali identity. Every autumn, when the air grows crisp, the smell of shiuli flowers fills the lanes, and the rhythmic beats of the dhaak echo through the heart of Bengal, Bengalis all over the world know that their most cherished celebration has arrived. For outsiders, Durga Puja may appear to be just a religious festival, but for Bengalis, it represents culture, art, community, nostalgia, and a deeply spiritual connection that transcends boundaries. In this blog, we will explore why Durga Puja holds such an emotional significance for Bengalis, diving into its cultural, social, spiritual, and personal dimensions.

At its heart, Durga Puja celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasura. It is the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and truth over falsehood. The goddess, with her ten arms wielding weapons, riding the majestic lion, is not merely a symbol of divine power but also of feminine strength and resilience.

For Bengalis, Durga is not only a goddess to be worshipped but also a daughter returning to her maternal home. This idea, that the mother goddess is coming to visit her earthly family for a few days, creates a personal, emotional connection. Bengalis welcome her with the same warmth, love, and longing with which they welcome a daughter visiting after a long stay at her in-laws’ house. This unique cultural perception turns worship into an intimate, familial relationship, making Durga Puja more emotional than ritualistic.

Durga Puja comes in Sharad Ritu (autumn), a season deeply romanticized in Bengali literature and music. The clear blue skies dotted with fluffy white kaash flowers, the cool breeze after monsoon rains, and the scent of fresh earth, all of these are strongly associated with Durga Puja. Rabindranath Tagore, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, and countless other Bengali writers have woven this season into poetry and prose, often linking it with Durga’s arrival.

This connection between season and festival builds nostalgia. Every Bengali, whether living in Kolkata, Dhaka, London, or New York, feels a tug in their heart when autumn arrives. The longing for the homeland, the smell of the festive air, and the anticipation of joy make Durga Puja an emotion that transcends geography.

One of the biggest reasons Durga Puja is so emotional for Bengalis is the sheer artistic brilliance associated with it. Every year, pandals (temporary structures that house the idols) are built with breathtaking creativity. From replicas of world monuments to abstract themes showcasing social issues, each pandal is a piece of art.

The idols of Goddess Durga, sculpted by artisans in places like Kumartuli (Kolkata), are themselves masterpieces. The craftsmanship, detailing, and creativity poured into these idols represent months of hard work and devotion. For Bengalis, this is not just art, it is pride, identity, and cultural expression.

Walking through the pandal-hopping experience, surrounded by lights, colors, music, and crowds, Bengalis feel a surge of emotion: awe, joy, and a sense of belonging. It is this cultural grandeur that makes Durga Puja feel larger than life.

Durga Puja culminates in Bijoya Dashami, when the idol is immersed in rivers or ponds, symbolizing the goddess’s return to her heavenly abode. For Bengalis, this farewell is deeply emotional. People cry, chant “Asche bochor abar hobe” (Next year, she will come again), and embrace each other with sweets and wishes.

This bittersweet ending, joy mixed with sorrow, perfectly encapsulates why Durga Puja is an emotion. It is not just about worshipping a goddess but about experiencing a cycle of arrival, celebration, and departure that mirrors life itself.

Finally, Durga Puja is a marker of Bengali identity. Just as Diwali is for North India or Onam is for Kerala, Durga Puja is the heartbeat of Bengal. It shapes cultural pride, literature, art, and even politics. For Bengalis, celebrating Durga Puja is not optional, it is who they are. This identity is so strong that even Bengalis who are not particularly religious still celebrate Puja with equal enthusiasm. For them, it is not about ritual, it is about belonging, nostalgia, art, community, and joy.

Durga Puja cannot be explained only through rituals or traditions. It is a feeling that must be experienced: the goosebumps when the dhaak beats begin, the smell of incense in the air, the laughter of friends on the streets at midnight, the taste of hot bhog, and the tears during immersion.

It is the joy of dressing up, the thrill of pandal-hopping, the warmth of community meals, the pride in cultural expression, and the bittersweet farewell. It is nostalgia, celebration, identity, and spirituality rolled into one.

For Bengalis, Durga Puja is their soul expressed through a festival. That is why it is not just an event in the calendar, it is an emotion that binds generations together.

About the Author

Shreya Giri is a talented SEO content writer with a unique flair for captivating readers. With a bachelor's degree in geography, her passion for crafting exceptional content shines through in every word she writes. Shreya's expertise lies in her ability to seamlessly blend language and storytelling, effortlessly capturing the attention of her audience.

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