Few festivals blend history, spirituality, art, and community the way Durga Puja does. The worship of the goddess Durga—an embodiment of strength, motherhood, and the cosmic feminine force—traces its lineage back to the earliest layers of civilization. Across the shifting sands of time, Durga has stood as both a spiritual icon and a cultural metaphor, deeply embedded in the Bengali psyche and celebrated with unbridled fervor and creative expression.

Ancestral Roots: Echoes from the Indus and Beyond

The roots of Durga worship can be traced back to pre-Vedic times, where the idea of a Mother Goddess—a nurturer, protector, and fertility symbol—permeated the spiritual consciousness of early humans. Across the Indus Valley Civilization, figurines and seals depicting female deities suggest a flourishing cult of nature and mother worship. These primal goddesses, associated with fertility, agriculture, and regeneration, laid the groundwork for what would later become the worship of Durga.

As Vedic religion evolved and assimilated local beliefs, Durga emerged as a potent form of Shakti—the supreme feminine energy. Her evolution into Mahishasuramardini, the slayer of the buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolized the triumph of good over evil, order over chaos, and dharma over adharma.

Durga in the Markandeya Purana: Divine Radiance and Cosmic Gifts

The Markandeya Purana, a key Sanskrit text from the 4th–5th century CE, provides a rich mythological narrative of Durga’s origin. Summoned by the collective energies of the gods to defeat Mahishasura, Durga is adorned with divine gifts:

• The Ocean presents her with a dazzling pearl necklace, a saree of shimmering fabric, and an array of ornaments—from earrings and armlets to anklets and finger rings.
• She is crowned with lotus garlands and celestial weaponry—each item a symbol of divine authority and invincible power.

Shakti and Bengal: A Sacred Confluence

While Durga is venerated across India, her spiritual homeland is arguably Bengal, where the Shakti cult found some of its most fervent expressions. The worship of Durga in Bengal likely began in the medieval period, but it was under the Pala and Sena dynasties (8th–12th centuries CE) that the tradition flourished with tantric undertones.

From Kali and Chhinnamasta to Chandi and Durga, Bengal’s pantheon of goddess forms reflects both the esoteric and the popular, the fierce and the nurturing.

Colonial Bengal: Durga as the Motherland

The British colonial era catalyzed a new interpretation of Durga. The goddess was no longer just a slayer of demons—she became a symbol of Bharat Mata, the divine motherland. This was most poignantly expressed in Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s 1882 novel “Anandamath”, where the song “Vande Mataram” galvanized generations of freedom fighters.

Durga’s image, thus, began to reflect not only religious devotion but also political consciousness. Her ten arms became the tenets of resistance; her lion, the spirit of a roaring nation.

From Zamindar Mansions to Community Pandals

The zamindars (landed aristocracy) of Bengal played a pivotal role in institutionalizing Durga Puja. In the 17th and 18th centuries, these elite families hosted elaborate celebrations in their ancestral homes. These Bonedi Barir Pujas, often continuing to this day, were opulent affairs with intricate rituals and classical music performances.

As urbanization expanded in the 19th and 20th centuries, the puja democratised—moving from royal courtyards to community pandals, giving birth to what we now know as Sarbojanin Durga Puja. These community-led celebrations brought people of all backgrounds together, transcending caste, class, and creed.

The Art of Ornamentation: From Shola to Silver

Durga Puja is not only a religious observance; it is an artistic spectacle.

Sholar Saaj: The Art of White Elegance

Crafted from Shola (Aeschynomene Aspera), a milky-white, spongy plant found in wetlands, Sholar Saaj is a traditional decoration form. Intricately shaped into crowns, backdrops, and floral motifs, this biodegradable material has been used for centuries by indigenous artisans. The delicate texture of Shola offers a pristine, ethereal elegance to the goddess and her children—Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, and Ganesh.

In the days of old Bengal, artisans would toil for weeks to shape a single Shola crown, embedding stories in each curve and fold—quiet tributes to the divine mother.

Daker Saaj: The Glamour of Imported Silver

As Bengal’s elite sought grandeur, a new form of ornamentation emerged—Daker Saaj. Named after dak or mail (through which the materials arrived from Europe), Daker Saaj featured silver foils, sequins, and glimmering metallic sheets imported from Germany. First popularized by the Sovabazar Rajbari in Kolkata, this style turned idols into shimmering icons of celestial beauty.

Even today, Daker Saaj remains an emblem of traditional grandeur, though contemporary artists experiment with new media—from acrylics and LED backdrops to eco-friendly materials and recycled art.

Durga Puja Today: A Carnival of Devotion and Culture

Today, Durga Puja in Kolkata is a multisensory spectacle—a cultural carnival where art installations, music, cuisine, and devotion come together in a celebration of life.

The pandals themselves have become canvases of innovation. Some are modeled on Egyptian pyramids, some on tribal huts, others on spacecraft. The goddess wears saris woven in Murshidabad silk or Benarasi brocade; she is adorned with recycled jute, bottle caps, or even terracotta beads.

And yet, in the heart of this constant reinvention, the spirit of the goddess remains unchanged—compassionate yet formidable, maternal yet revolutionary.

A Global Recognition: UNESCO and Beyond

On December 15, 2021, UNESCO inscribed “Durga Puja in Kolkata” on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This landmark moment was not just a nod to the city, but a recognition of the entire cultural ecosystem that surrounds the festival:

• The thousands of artisans and kumhars who sculpt the idols.
• The dhakis whose drums stir the collective heartbeat of Bengal.
• The rituals, myths, songs, and stories are passed through generations.

It is a victory for all those who find in Durga not just a deity, but a source of strength, a cultural compass, and a celebration of unity in diversity.

Conclusion: The Eternal Mother

Durga is more than a mythological figure—she is Bengal’s eternal mother, its fiercest protector and gentlest nurturer. Her puja is not just a festival but a collective expression of heritage, hope, and homecoming.

As we light incense and beat the dhaak, as we lose ourselves in the rhythm of dhunuchi naach and immerse in Sindoor Khela, we remember that Durga resides not only in the clay idols—but also in our resilience, creativity, and collective soul.