From the archive record
Priests performing religious rituals during Durga Puja in Delhi. Devotees praying to Goddess Durga on this auspicious occasion of Durga festival that represents the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil Mahishasura. Durga Puja - the ceremonial worship of the mother goddess, is one of the most important festivals of India. Apart from being a religious festival for the Hindus, it is also an occasion for reunion and rejuvenation, and a celebration of traditional culture and customs. While the rituals entails ten days of fast, feast and worship, the last four days - Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Dashami - are celebrated with much gaiety and grandeur in India and abroad, especially in Bengal, where the ten-armed goddess riding the lion is worshipped with great passion and devotion. Durga Puja i