Beliefs related to durga puja
Vijayadashami is celebrated during Navratri in North India during Durga Puja, as well as the victory of Lord Shri Rama over Ravana on Dashami. Ramlila is staged in North India on these days. So at the same time the scene of states like West Bengal, Tripura is different. Actually here too this festival is celebrated as the victory of good over evil. It is believed that it is celebrated as Vijayadashami because of slaying the demon Mahishasura, which is mentioned in the mythological texts, which is something like this-
According to Hindu Puranas, once upon a time the demon king used to be Mahishasura, which was very powerful. In order to dominate the heavens, he did extreme penance by Brahma Dev. Due to which Brahmadev appeared pleased and asked Mahishasura to ask for a bride. The demon king asked for the boon of immortality, but Brahma refused to give it and instead gave Mahishasura the boon of death at the hands of a woman. Mahishasura was delighted and thought how could an ordinary woman like me be killed? Now I have become immortal. After some time he invades heaven. There is an uproar in Devlok. All the gods reach Tridev and urge him to get out of this disaster. Then an inner power was created by the trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh). This power manifested in a feminine form. Who were called Durga. Fierce war broke out in Mahishasura and Durga and on the tenth day of Shukla Paksha of Ashwin month, Mother Durga killed Mahishasura. Since then, this day is celebrated as a celebration of the victory of good over evil and a festival of worship of power.
Another belief associated with this festival is that Lord Rama worshiped Goddess Durga to kill Ravana and received his blessings. Shri Rama killed Ravana on the tenth day of Durga Puja, since then that day came to be called Vijayadashami.
Importance of Durga Puja
This festival has great religious, spiritual, cultural and worldly importance. Durga Puja is a nine-day festival. Durga Puja is celebrated according to the location, tradition, ability of the people and faith of the people. Some people celebrate it for five, seven or full nine days. People begin idol worship of Goddess Bhagwati Durga Devi with “Shashthi”, which ends on the day of “Dashami”. Some people in the society or community celebrate the pandals in a nearby area. In these days, Durga Patha, Jagrata and Mata Ki Chowki are organized in all the nearby temples. Some people worship at home with all the arrangements and on the last day, after worshiping the house and duly, immerse the idol in the reservoir, pool, river or sea.
