Durga Puja is a big festival that is celebrated with fervour and joy in West Bengal. Commonly known as Durgotsava or Durgo Pujo in Bengali, it is a nine days festival where devotees worship Maa Durga (Goddess Durga). It is basically a celebration of the good over evil. The customs of the Durga Puja commence from Mahalaya. Mahalaya amavasya ends the Pitru Paksha (Shradh). Mahalaya is an auspicious day for Bengalis as shradh ends on this amavasya and the Durga Puja starts.
Maa Durga is also known as Mahishasura Mardini. Mahishasura Mardini means annihilation of the demon. The story is about the rising cruelty of king Mahishasura against Gods. The Gods got worried as the demon was terrorizing heaven and Earth. They requested Lord Vishnu to annihilate the demon Mahishasura.
Lord Vishnu along with Mahesh and Brahma created a powerful woman, Durga. The 'Mahamaya' or 'Mother of the universe' was created with 10 arms and 10 weapons, and she embeds a lot of power. She went to kill the demon king, Mahishasura. After nine days fight, Durga finally killed Mahishasura on the 10th day of the waxing moon. She killed him with her trident. Since then, she was named Mahishasura Mardini (the slayer of the buffalo demon). You can see a demon under her trident in every idol.
Durga Puja is also celebrated in neighbouring states of Bihar, Assam, Jharkand to name a few. During this important festival, you can find many pandals that are decorated with lights and creativity to showcase the idol of Goddess Durga.
In various pandals you will notice creative skills of an artist. All the clay idols have some or the other story to depict. Lets brief out the most beautiful and never seen before pictures of Goddess Durga idols.















