Durga Puja also known as Durgotsava is predominantly celebrated with great pomp and fervour in the states of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, and Bihar. The 10-day festival is one of the grandest festivals in the country and holds great religious significance among Hindus, especially Bengalis. The festival marks Goddess Durga’s triumph over the demon king Mahishasur.

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Though it is a 10-day festival, the last five days of Shashti Tithi of Shukla Paksha and Dashami Tithi of Shukla Paksha, which are celebrated as Dussehra, and Durga Visarjan in the month of Ashwina are considered to be the most significant ones. Other than Goddess Durga, the deities of Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati, and Karthik are also worshipped.

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Durga Puja 2023: Start and End Date

The first day of Durgotsava or Durga Puja will begin on Sasthi, the 6th day of Shukla Paksha on Friday, October 20, this year and will culminate on tenth day of Ashwin Shukla Paksha on Tuesday, October 24. The Durga Puja 2023 tithi calendar is as follows:

• October 20 (Friday): Maha Shashsti, Akal Bodhan, Kalparambh
• October 21 (Saturday): Maha Saptami, Navapatrika Puja, Kolabou Puja
• October 22 (Sunday): Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja, Kumari Puja
• October 23 (Monday): Maha Navami, Dhunuchi Dance
• October 24 (Tuesday): Vijaya Dashami, Dussehra, Durga Visarjan, Sindoor Khela

Durga Puja 2023: Shubh Muhurat

The shubh muhurat for Durga Puja i.e., Pratipada Tithi begins at 11:24 PM on October 14 and the Dashami tithi starts at 05:44 PM on October 23 and ends at 03:14 PM on October 24.

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Durga Puja 2023: History And Significance

Devotees bring Goddess Durga idol at home on the sixth day of Navratri and worship Goddess Durga for five consecutive days. They decorate their house, invite relatives, friends and neighbours and go Puja pandal hopping to celebrate these days with much happiness and bliss. After the five day long celebrations, they perform Durga Visarjan on the day of Vijaya Dashami.

Durga Puja 2023: Puja Rituals

1. Bengalis worship Mahishasur Mardini, the form of Goddess Durga, during these days.
2. Different rituals and pujas are performed, and devotees prepare various types of delicacies and offer bhog prasad to Maa Durga, Goddess Laxmi, Saraswati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Karthik.
3. After celebrating the festival with great grandeur and enthusiasm, a grand celebration of Sindoor Khela is performed by married women on the last day of Durga Visarjan.
4. They first offer vermillion to Goddess Durga, then the woman apply vermillion to other married women and the elders give blessings of good life and good fortune.