Idol
Durga Puja is the main festival of Bengalis. It is believed that Mother Durga comes to earth (her mother’s home) every year for Navratra that is nine nights…… twice a year. We worship Durga as the daughter of the household and pamper her for the last six days of the navratra from sashti to Dashami. A lot of stories are associated with this festival which is held on a grand scale. You can read them here.
The festival is also the biggest social occasion as Durgotsavs are not celebrated in the households but in the groups and gatherings. Men and Women dress up in their finery for this five day festival. In Kolkata the city stops completely in these five days and the people are all out strutting their finery, shopping, gifting, eating, all of it on a very very large scale. They go all out and about in this festival. It is my favorite time of the year.
Durgotsav is celebrated twice a year……. once during March and once during September-October, depending on the moon. This is the idol of Ma Durga during the Sharadiya Durgotsav festivities last year in September. The second pic is of all kids with their pets and Mahishasur.

I am loving your links to Alphabe-Thursday!
I know so little of India and it is such a pleasure to visit and read of these festivities!
Thank you for sharing this.
I am fascinated!
A+
Gorgeous! So many interesting things to learn about India and that really fascinates me:)
Visiting for Orange Tuesdays! Hope you can stop by:)
http://www.loveablecassandra.com/2012/01/baby-bath-collection.html
beautiful idols like a typical Indian beauty, loved it π visiting from Orange Tuesday, hope that you can return the visit too.
http://www.mommies2ks.com/2012/01/learning-how-to-tell-a-time.html
Coming back for Orange Tuesday.
Orange Tuesday post at my page.
I would like to invite you to join Color Connection every Friday, hope you can join. It’s at my daughter’s blog. Thanks!
This is a great moment. I really like the entire scene.
That is amazing and very interesting!
Visiting for Mellow Yellow Monday! Hope you can stop by:)
http://www.cassandrasminicorner.com/2012/01/lysol-disinfecting-wipes.html
So pretty!
Yellow at my page. Please come and see. Thanks!
Very interesting. When I saw your title on Jenny’s link up list, I thought maybe it was going to be about some “American Idol” winner. (Not long ago we had a winner from Arkansas, and last year we had a contestant that was from our area.)
Beautiful shot. Have a fabulous week.
Liz @ MLC
Liz @ MCN
she is so beautiful like a natural Indian woman π visiting from MYM, hope that you can return the visit too.
http://www.mommies2ks.com/2012/01/invited-for-a-birthday-party.html
Great shots.
Awesome shot!
Kim,USA
powerful shot…i like the closeup u’ve got on this!
also, i’d really appreciate if you could contribute for Saturday Sareenity.
cheers!
So colorful and pretty!
Very interesting? Is Mother Durga the one who rides a tiger?
what beautiful photos! and i enjoyed learning more about your culture!
so colorful! beautiful!
Very intriguing!
What beautiful pictures!
Do the celebrations in spring and fall coordinate with the planting season and the harvest? Your pictures are wonderful. I love reading about other cultures. Thank you!!