Durga Puja is around the corner, all you need to know about 9-day-long celebration

Bengalis across the world are at present on cloud nine as Durga Puja, one of the much-anticipated festivals in Bengal is around the corner. September 21 marks the begging of Sharadiya Navratri and lakhs of devotees celebrate the holy occasion with much grandeur and funfare.

Mahalaya has already been celebrated by Bengalis all over the world and the auspicious day has given a kick-start to the 'Devi-paksha' and put an end to the inauspicious Shraadhh period or 'Pitri-paksh'.

Pitri Paksha also known as Pitru Paksha is a 16–lunar day period in Hindu calendar and three generations of ancestors are invited to a meal and an offering of rice cakes on Mahalaya. The offering is known as 'Tarpan' and presented on a banana leaf.

With celebration of Mahalaya, Bengalis welcomed their beloved Devi Durga and will further set a mood of celebrqation with a bunch of special songs and hymns like 'Bajlo Tomar Alor Benu', 'Durge Durge Durgatinashini', 'Jaago Tumi Jaago' and others.

This year, the day is celebrated across Bengal on Tuesday, i.e. September 19, 2017 and the excited Bengalis recount the creation of Durga with the 90-minute Mahishasura Mardini invocation of Goddess Durga, recited by legendary Birendra Krishna Bhadra.

Also Read: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurates Goddess Durga 'Puja Pandal', preparations of festival in Kolkata

The programme has touched its eighth decade on All India Radio and the voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra is yet irreplaceable. The programme narrates Goddess Durga's descend to earth with a series of hymns and songs which cause goosebumps to lakhs of Bengalis on the dawn of Mahalaya.

Going by the mythology, Goddess Durga is said to be created with the blessings and power of all other Gods, especially Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar, in order to defeat the demon king Mahishasura. Mahishasura received a boon that he could not be killed by any man or god which prompts the creation of Goddess Durga.

Durga was bestowed with the various weapons borrowed from her creators, symbolically held in the 10 hands that are attached to the Goddess' body which were later used in her fight against Mahishasura.

Finally the Goddess became successful in killing the demong king on the 10th day, much to the delight, thrill and excitement to the world of Goddess.

Therefore, Bengalis have all the raesons to feel on top of the world and are leaving no stone unturned to celebrate the 9-day-long Durga Puja from September 21 with the faithful fasting and worshipping nine different avatars of Goddess Durga.

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Kalash sthapna or ghatasthapna is said to be the most important rituals among others as it marks the beginning of Navratris.

Ghatasthapna is a way to invoke Goddess Durga and it is very important to know the correct muhurat for the ritual.

Here we bring you the complete list of thitis and muhrat of this upcoming celebration:

Pratipada Tithi Begins- 10:59 on 20/Sep/2017
Pratipada Tithi Ends-10:34 on 21/Sep/2017

The Ghatsthapna muhurat will last for almost two hours, the Drik Panchang says.

Ghatasthapana Muhurta - 06:12 to 08:09
Duration - 1 Hour 56 Mins

However, many astrologers are also saying that the kalash sthapna is best done in the 'Abhijit Muhurat'.

Abhijit Muhurat for Ghatasthapana - 11:46 am to 12:34 pm

The devotees must also note that that Ghatasthapana must be done in the right muhurat as there would be a Rahukaal later in the day.

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Rahu Kaal begins on 3:16 pm

Each day of the Navratri is celebrated with an avatar of Goddess Shakti.

21 September: Maa Shailputri Puja

22 September: Maa Brahmacharini Puja

23 September: Maa Chandraghanta Puja

24 September: Maa Kushmanda Puja

25 September: Maa Skandamata Puja

26 September: Maa Katyani Puja

27 September: Maa Kalaratri Puja

28 September: Maa Mahagauri Puja

29 September: Maa Siddhidatri Puja

Kumari Puja

On Ashtami and Navmi, many households will conclude the Navratri with 'Kumari pujan'.

It includes washing feet of 9 young girls below the age of 13 and a young boy that symbolises Hanuman or Langur.

Also Read | Vishwakarma Puja 2017: Check out puja muhurat and mantra

These 'Kanyas' are offered halwa, chana and poori.

After this the devotees are allowed to break their fast.