Durga's mode of journey to the Earth, her parents' home, is detailed in scriptures.
Though Ma Durga lands on this world with her carriage lion but something
must be there to act as her mode of transport from heaven to the
surface of earth. Legends say it may be an elephant, a horse,
palanquin or boat - all signify luck or omen which influence the life on earth. The elephant signifies prosperity and good harvest while journey on a horse back indicates drought, a palanquin spells wide spread epidemic and the boat suggests flood and misery.
The mode differs from one year to another.
In fact, this is how Goddess Durga assumes the image of a very earthly
girl coming back home from her in-laws' house every year. She thus
breaks the human-superhuman barrier with this homely girl image and
becomes very much Bengali. She stays for four days - Shashti, Saptami,
Ashtami and Nabami, along with her four children, Ganesha, Laxmi,
Saraswati and Kartik, and sets for her husband's abode on Vijaya Dashami.
Each of these children comes with their respective carriage. Ganesha
comes with a mouse on his side. Laxmi comes with an all white owl.
Saraswati comes with a goose while Kartik has a peacock on his side. The
children nurture distinctive designation for them. Ganesh as the deity
of wealth and wisdom, Laxmi the goddess of wealth and affluence. On the
other hand Swaraswati is regarded as the goddess of learning and
scholastic upliftment has earned a designation in the heaven.
Kartik who stands on the extreme right is regarded as the chief of army
staff of the heaven.
When mother comes back the children get rejuvenated. So does the earth.
It is time the people of Bengal gear up to greet the Devi, the goddess
incarnate, with all their devotion and ferver.
The Bengali tract is probably rooted to Chamba paintings of the 18th century. The worship of Durga as the mother goddess, the epitome of
'Shakti'(divine power), to deliver the Earth from the evil and bring peace and prosperity in our lives. But the most interesting part of Durga Puja is that, instead of placing Durga on a high alter and worshipping her from a distance the Bengalis embrace her in their hearts and make her an
inseparable member of the family. Here, Durga is welcomed to the earth as our daughter who comes at her parents' home for her annual visits.
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