Durga Puja festival or Sharadiya Durga Puja (autumnal worship) as it is known among the Bengalis is the largest outdoor festival on earth. Durga puja festival came into prominence during the British raj in India and the first such pujo festival was performed by Raja Nabakrishna Deb of Shobhabazar rajbari of Kolkata. During the eighteenth century, celebration of Durga Puja became a prominent event among Jamindars, babus and other eminent Bengalis from Bengal. Some of these families have maintained the traditions and still continue to perform Durga pujas in their palatial houses. Today however most of the pujas are called Sarbojonin Durgotsav (meaning, it involves everybody). Sarbojonin Durgotsav is also called Baroyari Durga Puja. Mahishasuramardini which is a two hour radio programme aired by All India Radio since 1950s marks the start of festival moods among Bengalis. Bengalis wake up at 4 am in the morning to listen to this programme which is a recitation from Late Birendra Kishore Bhadra and late Pankaj Kumar Mullick. Mahishasuramardini consists of hymns from Devi Mahatmyam or Chandipath.
Durga Puja is a festival of celebrating the win of good over the evil (Mahishasur). It’s a belief that during autumn season, Maa Durga along with her four kids – Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh makes an annual visit to the earth and leaves the earth on Dashami to reunite with her husband Shiva. Worship of Maa Durga happens from sixth day to ninth day of waxing moon fortnight (Devipakshya). While brahmins offer puja to Maa Durga, crowds gather to offer their prayer (pushpanjali). The pandals are full of rhythmic music from drummers (dhakis). The immersion ceremony happens on the day of Dashami which is also called Bishorjon or Bhaasan. After Dashami people forget the grief of departure of Maa Durga and embrace each other. This is called Bijoya and people treat other with sweets and delicacies.