Just like the Goddess Durga defeated the demon king Mahishashur is not just an inspiration but also a metaphor. In present day, the collective consciousness around Durga Puja, partly fuelled by the advertisement industry and the media is one of progress, development and most importantly, empowerment of women. Over the years, this particular Puja has gained social, cultural and lately, political currency to such an extent that it is now a full-fledged festival-starting right from Mahalaya till Doshomi or the 10 th day of the Puja when the idols are finally immersed in water. There is a reason why Durga Puja is no longer just a ‘ Puja‘-a long saga of tradition and ritual strictly religious in nature. The actual condition, however, does not change even amidst the lights and the sound of ‘dhaak’.
Every year, the 4-5 days of Durga Puja in West Bengal come with its own promise of celebrating a female goddess-and by extension, all the women around us.
