Durga Puja has always been more than a festival for us—it is an emotion woven into our family’s history, memories, and traditions. But Durga Puja 2025 felt especially magical, as the celebrations returned with full grandeur to our ancestral home in Palashdanga, Bankura.
This year our
puja reached 213 years and everyone among the relatives attended it.
The preparations began long before the actual puja days. The entire household buzzed with excitement shopping lists grew longer, responsibilities multiplied, and every corner of the home came alive with anticipation. During the four days of festivities, countless people from our village and nearby areas joined in, turning our family home into a hub of devotion, joy, and togetherness.
Maa Durga’s idol begins with bamboo, straw, and clay, slowly taking divine shape.
She is painted with bright colors
Ma Durga and others Being draped in colorful saree and for kartik and ganesha dhoti
Then comes the shimmering Daaker Saaj, with shola ornaments and silver glow.
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Saptami: When Maa Arrives
Saptami marked the beginning of the divine presence
Early morning we take kala bou (Ma Durga in Natures Form) to damodar. invoke her dip in the Damoder River. Fill ghats with water.The roads filled are filled with devotees seeking darshan of Ma and blowing conches. . The most sacred ritual of the day was the Pran Prathistha—the invocation of Maa Durga into the idol. As the priest chanted mantras and the beats of the dhaak resonated through the courtyard, it felt as though the entire atmosphere shifted, becoming heavier with devotion yet lighter with joy.
Different types of bhogs are prepaired during the day for Ma Durga.
Ashtami: Kumari Puja & Sandhi Puja
Ashtami began with the serene and spiritually powerful Kumari Puja* where the divine feminine was worshipped in the form of a young girl. This ritual, deeply rooted in Shakta traditions, brought a sense of purity and blessings to everyone present.
The afternoon then moved toward the most intense and sacred moment—the Sandhi Puja, performed at the juncture of Ashtami and Navami. This ritual honours Maa Chamunda, the fierce form of Shakti. With 108 lamps glowing together 108 lotus are offered a gun firing is done during balidaan of sandhi puja and the sound of the conch rising through the night, this puja is most crucial as ma Chamunda needs to be worshipped very carefully so a tense moment runs through everyones veins, but this puja felt truly otherworldly—powerful, divine, and unforgettable.
Navami: The Day of Offerings & Feasting
Navami carried a festive warmth of its own. The puja was accompanied by the traditional balidan of three types of fruits, Cucumber, Sugercane and ash groud, and havan (home yagna) is performed on ths day symbolizing purity and devotion.
But the highlight of the day was the community feast.
More than 400 people across the village were served food at our home—family, neighbours, guests, and villagers alike. Our courtyard turned into a vibrant dining area, filled with laughter, conversations, and the aroma of freshly prepared dishes where fish is compulsory.
Adding to the charm, most of the village sweets were made at our home by our dedicated cooks filling the air with the smell of ghee, coconut, jaggery, and love.
Every evening during the four days transformed into a vibrant carnival of joy.
The courtyard echoed with laughter as villagers and family members gathered to participate in various fun-filled activities such as:
Musical Chair
Cracking The Pot
Candle Lighting Games
Cultural Performances featuring songs, dances, and small skits and many others
These events kept everyone—children, elders, and guests—enthusiastically engaged, creating a warm atmosphere of togetherness. The evenings beautifully blended devotion with celebration, turning simple moments into unforgettable memories that strengthened our bond as a family and community.
Dashami: A Goodbye Wrapped in Tears
Dashami arrived with its bittersweet feeling—the day of Visarjan. from morning we were sad as we prepared to bid farewell to Maa Durga, The ghat and Kola Bou immersion happened at morning into the damodar. the idol was taken out for immersion at evening. the women performed Sindoor Khela, smearing vermillion with smiles hiding their sadness. There were approximately 300 villegers joining the procession. here Ma Durga is taken on shoulders of people The idol was taken in a slow, emotional procession to the dighi nearby with dhakis beating dhaak to fullest. crackers lighting the whole sky. The moment Maa’s idol touched the water, it felt like saying goodbye to a beloved family member who promises to return next year.
A Festival That Lives in Our Hearts
Durga Puja 2025 at Palashdanga wasn’t just a religious celebration—it was a celebration of roots, heritage, and belonging. It brought our family together, connected us with our village, and renewed traditions that have lived through generations.
Every lamp lit, every mantra chanted, and every meal served strengthened the sense of community and devotion that our ancestors cherished. As the echoes of dhaak faded away, they left behind memories we will carry until Maa comes home again next year.
