Durga Puja

Durga puja is a Hindu festival that we celebrate and when we pray to the goddess Durga. It is the largest major festival for Bengali Hindus all over the planet. The celebration lasts for five days during in which we worship ‘Ma Durga’ for blessings to be successful and victorious and to do well. 

The festival takes place in the autumn time once a year in the month of September or October. This period of time is called 'Saratkal' in Bengal. For this reason the puja is also known as 'Sharadiya Durgoutsav'. 

The goddess Durga is a powerful goddess. She has ten hands each wielding a weapon. She also sits on a Lion and that is why she is also called 'Singhobahini'. During this five day period, she descends to earth with her four children who are: Ganesh, Kartick, Saraswati and Lakshmi. 

They also arrive with their carriers which are called 'bahans' and with their preferred armaments. Durga Puja is also a social event when a lot of people assemble together, no matter what their caste or creed, to enjoy themselves and have a great time. People wear new clothes and eat nice food and sweets. It is also a time to exchange gifts with each other. In many places, people arrange a variety of cultural functions and programmes for entertainment.

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Durga Puja

For five days in October
People assemble and worship
To the divine goddess Durga
Who has power like a whip

Many people come
To this grand celebration
They wear nice garments
To pray for the demon's destruction

This is a major festival
For Bengali Hindus across the Earth
Not mattering what creed they are
Everyone from Portland to Perth

This is a religious occasion
Also being a social event
It’s a time when people gather
And enjoy it 100 percent

Indrajeet Mondol,

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Son of Dr. Nado and Bulu Mondol, Indrajeet is one of our talented  young members. He is 12 years old and is a Year 8 student at King's School.