Today (Oct 3) is the maha saptami ( the seventh day of the full moon).In Calcutta, devotees celebrated their most auspicious day of the festival with elaborate rituals since early mornings at the pandals.Today (Oct 16) is the Maha Navami.This is the concluding day of Durga Puja. The main Navami puja begins after the end of Sandhi Puja. The Navami Bhog(sacred food is offered to Goddess)later give to votees.
The 10 handed Goddess Durga made up of clay is on top of a lion.Her hands carry different weapons in them except two which holds the spear which has been struck into the chest of Mahishasura(demon).The four children are accompanying Durga-Laxmi,the goddess of wealth,Saraswati,the Goddess of knowledge,kartik,the god of warship and Ganesha,the elephant faced god representing everything that is good.
Every year festival organisers of Calcutta and suburbs choose a theme and recreate their model. This year Dum Dum Yubak Brinda’s theme is ‘MANDANA’.The themes of Mandana are mainly variety of birds, animals and plants, anthropomorphs, and decorative designs which are highlighted with dots and dashes.The idol made by Shri. Pradip Pal of Kumortuli.Pandel decoration (makeshift temple) was done by South Calcutta Decorators.
Similarly, this year,the pandal (makeshift temple) is designed like a Buddhist Monastery in Lake Town Adibasi Brinda. The idol have a traditional look, made by Gouranga Kuila.