Durga Puja: Maha Shashthi

In Treta Yug, before beginning of his onslaught on Lanka, Rama performed Durga Puja in Autumn. This is the time of Dakhshinayana- Sun’s Southward journeys and according to Puranas Gods sleep duering this time. So Rama had to first wake up the Goddess Durga. On this day he began his premature awakening or Akal Bodhan of Maa Durga.

Sasthi is the sixth day of Devi Pakhsha and marked the formal biginning of Durga Puja in Bengal. In West Bengal and other Eastern part of India four rituals- Kalparamvo (the beginning of the Pujas), Bodhan (the consecration of Ma Durga’s idol), Amantran (inviting the Goddess) and Adhivas (sanctifying the stay of the Goddess in the puja area of the pandals) - are performed on Sasthi. The 'Bodhon' rituals include the unveiling of the face of the idol. Bodhon, Amontron and Adibas are the important rituals of Sasthi apart from Kalparambho.

But Bengalis believe that on the day of Sasthi Uma(Goddess Durga), who is identified with Parvati the divine consort of Shiva comes to home of her father from her husband place with her four Children- Ganesha, Kartika, Laxmi and Saraswati. This is why all the ladies participate in the setting up of the Durga Ghat before the idol on Sasthi. They are formally welcoming Uma as a daughter on her arrival for three day trip to his father’s house.

In other parts of India the sixth day of Navaratri is celebrated as Durga Sasthi or Maha Sasthi. On Sasthi Katyani Puja is observed as part of NavaDurga Puja in Shaktheya Samprdaya.

Durga Puja Accessories

||Maha Shashti ||

Sasthi, the sixth day of the moon when Goddess Durga is welcomed with much fanfare and gusto. The 'Bodhon' rituals include the unveiling of the face of the idol. Bodhon, Amontron and Adibas are the important rituals of Sasthi apart from Kalparambho.

Kalparambho (Beginning of the pujas)

Bodhon

A stem of wood apple with 2 bel (wood apples), Ghat (pot)/ Kundohari, An earthen bowl full of atop(a type of rice). 4 arrows, Green coconut with stalk, Gamcha-To cover the ghat a piece of cloth, A dhoti for wood apple tree.(here the wood apple tree is worshipped. But instead many perform this ritual with 10 rituals (Dashopochar). A sari for bodhon. 2 Ashonanguriuk(a finger ring made of koosh), 3 bowls of madhupakka(a mixture of honey, curd, ghee, sugar for oblation), Panchapallab(5 leaves), Pancha ratna(5 gems), Panchashasha(5 grains), Panchagobbo(5 extracts of the cow), Tekatha- a triangular frame work of 3 pieces of wood. Til (Sesame), Horitoki(myrobalan), Flowers, Chandmala (dangler with circular sponge decorations), Curd, Honey, Ghee, Sugar, 3 big noibiddos, 1 small noibiddo, Bhoger drobbadi (materials for the feast), Aaratir drobbadi.

Amontron

Sari for amontron-1, 1 Ashonanguriuk(a finger ring made of koosh), 1 bowl of Madhupakka (a mixture of honey, curd, ghee, sugar for oblation), Flowers, Big noibiddos-1, Small noibiddo-1, Til (Sesame), Horitoki (Myrobalan)-1

Adibas
Oil, Turmeric, River soil from the Ganges, Perfume, Stone, Grain, Dubba (a type of grass required), Flowers, Fruits, 1 dozen bananas in one stem, Curd, Ghee, Sindur, Swastik Pituli, Conch Shell, Kajol (corrilium), Gorachana (cow urine), White mustard seeds, Gold, Silver, Copper, Mirror, Alta, Yellow thread, Iron metal, Chamor (a kind of fan, a fly-whisk made of yak's tail used for fanning), Dip (Earthen Lamps), Arrows, Panch pradip (for aarati)..