A Journey To Discover Life

 This article is partly featured in The Statesman Festival 2024 Magazine. In Bengal, Durga Puja is not only a religious tradition, but it is also a festival. It is called “ Bangalir Shreshto Utsab ” or the greatest festival of Bengalis. This is because, although it started as a religious festival, as we have discussed in the previous blogs, it turned out to be a representation of cultural unity and the freedom movement, as well as seeing her as the daughter returning home with her children. It is called a " Sarbojonin " Utsab, or a festival meant for all and sundry. Durga Puja is inclusive of caste, creed, religion, as well as gender identities and professions. Thus, it is more than just a Puja . The traditions, rituals and ways of Durga Puja are hence very different from Navratri, which is observed in individual homes. Let's find out how. The Pandals and idol: As per Hindu tradition,  four things are important when  the idol of Maa Durga is prepared. These include clay f...

Myths  are regarded as stories that may or may not be true.  Myths are often regarded as History without evidence . Sometimes, Mythology is treated as religious texts or moral stories. Myths that, however, have historical evidence are termed " Itihash " The famous city of  Troy  is an example of Mythology culminating in History. Everyone regarded  Homer 's  Iliad  and  Odyssey  as mere mythical stories. The discovery of the archaeological sites of  Troy,  exactly resembling the original stories, proved the Trojan War to be historical rather than mythical. I believe every myth has a historical source. Stories across the world cannot have the same versions everywhere if they are just made up for entertainment purposes. Creation: God created the world. In the  Biblical Psalm 104 , the  Bhagavat Gita  and the  Hymns to Aten  written by  Akhenaten , it is mentioned that it is  "  He alone who made ...