Durga Puja is one of the most celebrated festivals in Bengal. Durga Pooja starts with Mahalaya, the first phase of the waxing moon in Aashin maas (Ashwin month). Mahashashti, also known as Durga Puja shashti, is the inauguration day of Durga Puja in Bengal. Here is Durga Puja 2010 calendar or dates or schedule in Bengal:
- Mahalaya Durga Puja – 7 October, 2010 (Mahalaya Amavasya)
- Maha Sasthi Durga Puja – 13 October 2010
- Maha Saptami Durga Puja – 14 October 2010
- Mahashtami Durga Puja – 15 October 2010 (Durgashtami Puja)
- Navami Durga Puja – 16 October 2010 (Mahanabami or Durga Navami)
- Vijaya Dasami Durga Puja – 17 October 2010 (Bijoya Dashami)
The main Durga Pooja starts on Maha Saptami. Mahanavami marks the conclusion of Durga Puja. Durga Puja is performed for three days – Durga Shasthi, Mahashtami and Maha Navami.
Navratri is nine-festive days dedicated to Goddess Durga. Navratri is observed for four times in a year. Magh Navratri and Ashad Navratri are called as Gupt Navratri. Ashad Navratri is also known as Guhya Navratri during which Goddess Varahi (Ashtamatrika devata) is worshipped in Himachal Pradesh. Magh Navaratri 2010 dates are Janaury 16 to January 24. Chaitra Navaratri or Vasant Navratri 2010 dates – Navaratri starts on March 16 and ends on March 24.
Ashad Navratri 2010 starts on July 12 and ends on July 19. Sharad Navratri or Durga Navratri, also known as Ashwin Navratri, in 2010 starts on October 8 and ends on 17 October.
Magh Navratri – January 16, 2010 to 24 January, 2010
Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratri – March 16, 2010 to March 24, 2010
Ashad Navratri – 12 July, 2010 to 19 July, 2010
Sharad Navratri – 8 October 2010 to 17 October 2010
Paush Navratri, also spelt as Poush Navratras, is a nine-day festival celebrated from first day to ninth day during Paush month or Pushya masam. In 2009, Paush Navratri starts on December 25 and ends on December 31. This year, during Paush Navratri, Sindhu Pushkar are commenced. Pushya masa Navratras are also called as Shakambari Navratri in some areas. In Shakambari mata temples, Navratri utsav is celebrated with lot of gusto during Poush month.
Shakambari Navratri in major temples of Goddess Shakambari:
Paush Navratri is celebrated in Shakambari temples located in Badami, Bangalore in Karnataka, in Nagewadi, Maharashtra, Kumbhoj near Satara, Sharanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Sambhar in Rajasthan.
In Badami Banashankari devi temple in Karnataka, Banashankari Jatra is celebrated during Shakambari Navaratri. Banadashtami or Banada Astami festival is also celebrated during Shakambari Navaratri in Badami region.
Paush Navratri is not much popular festive season dedicated to Goddess Durga. The famous Navratri are – Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri. Gupt Navratri are Magh Navratras and Ashada Navaratras.
Dandiya has become more or less a fusion of Indian traditional folk dance and western hip-hop style and passion. As Dandiya, the dance of Navratri, is very popular in Hyderabad, JADE is presenting the biggest Dandiya bash in 2009 Navratri season at Marriot Convention Centre on September 27th.
- For passes contact: 64632208, 9010544344, 9985414456, 9052265150, 9948699924
- Price: Per head in the denomination of – Rs. 1000, Rs. 1500, and Rs. 3000
- Venue: Marriott Convention Centre
- Tank Bund Road, Opposite. Hussain Sagar Lake, Hyderabad
- Phone number: 040 – 27522999
- Date: Sunday, Sep 27
- Time: 7:00 PM Onwards
Durgashtami, also known as Mahashtami or Virashtami, is the most important day in Durga Navratri and Durga Puja. Durgashtami 2009 date is September 26. On this day, Kumari Puja and Suhasini Puja are performed. In Bengal, Sandhi Puja is observed at the conjunction Durgashtami and Maha Navami days.
Durgashtami 2009 is very significant as it falls on Moola Nakshatram day. Moola Nakshatram arrives at 3.59 in the evening on 25th September (Maha Saptami) and moves on at 6’o clock in the evening on 26th September (Durgashtami). As Moola Nakshtram is the birth star of the Mother Goddess, this Navratri Puja is most auspicious as per Hindu beliefs. According to Jyotish, it may mark some good results for Hindus and Hindu religion. In 2010, Moola Nakshatram will be coinciding with Maha Sashti or Durga Shashti. On this day Durga Puja 2010 will start in Bengal.
On Durgashtami, Bathukamma Panduga, the biggest traditional festival, is celebrated in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. On Moola Nakshtram day, Goddess Kanaka Durga is decorated and worshipped in Maha Saraswati Devi alankaram. For Saraswati Puja, Moola Nakshatram is the main aspect. On this day, Saraswati Puja starts all over India.
In Basara Gnana Saraswati Devi Temple, Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh, Aksharabhyasam, also known as Vidyarambham is the main event on Moola Nakshtra yuktha Saraswati Puja.
