From the archive record
Women, men, children sit on the floors of the temple at Katwaria Sarai in Delhi. The devotees feast on the food prepared as offering for the goddess Durga. The gods are offered the specially made food after which devotees follow. This ritual of prasad is followed in almost every important religious event and ritual. Durga Puja is celebrated among Hindus in India in various forms as a celebration of women and the goddess Durga who is also worshipped in many other forms. Durga Puja is mostly celebrated in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, Tripura and Bihar. Durga Puja is also the commemoration of the goddess Durga's triumph over Mahishasura, the shape-shifting demon in Hindu mythology. Mostly Durga Puja is a grand affair with many activities as part of the festivity but this year due