Welcome to Maa Durga Samity, Kashmar
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Every autumn Maa Durga comes, and the village gathers at her feet. We keep these days here as an offering of gratitude — with her blessings.
Radhacharan Kuleshwari Devi Durga Mandir stands in Kashmar. The temple was established in Ashwin 1314 (October 1907), and Maa Durga has been worshipped here ever since. We are only her devotees — it is her grace that has carried the Puja from one generation to the next.
This page is a humble offering at her feet: photographs, videos and stories from each year's Puja, kept so that those who could not be here can still receive her blessings. Every year has its own Parikrama, a little book you can turn page by page.
Here the Puja unfolds through its rituals: Agomoni, Belboron, Nabapatrika Snan, Sandhi Puja and finally Mayer Biday on Dashami, with daily puja from Shashthi to Dashami.
Each year the Puja moves through the same sacred steps, with Maa worshipped every day from Shashthi to Dashami. This is a short outline; the elders will add the fuller stories and the way each ritual is kept here.
The old stories of Maa Durga that we grow up hearing. The elders will add more, in their own words.
When the demon Mahishasura grew so powerful that even the gods could not stop him, they gave their strength to Maa Durga. Riding a lion, she fought for many days and, on the day of Dashami, she won. That is why we celebrate Vijaya, the victory of goodness.
सर्वबाधाप्रशमनं त्रैलोक्यस्याखिलेश्वरि । एवमेव त्वया कार्यमस्मद्वैरिविनाशनम् ॥
In Bengal we think of Durga as Uma, a daughter who comes home for a few days each autumn with her children, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartik. That is why the Puja feels like a family homecoming, and why the farewell on Dashami brings tears.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Maa Durga is shown with ten arms, each holding a weapon given by a different god. They remind us that when all good strengths come together, no darkness can stand against them.
देव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निःशेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या । तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः ॥
A few of the verses in praise of Maa Durga, from the Devi Mahatmya (Chandi). The elders will add the mantras used in each ritual here.
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके । शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
सृष्टिस्थितिविनाशानां शक्तिभूते सनातनि । गुणाश्रये गुणमये नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी । दुर्गा क्षमा शिवा धात्री स्वाहा स्वधा नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Photographs from recent years at the temple and in the village. Every year the gallery grows.
Photographs, videos and stories from each year's Puja — open one and turn the pages.
These dates are worked out from the moon and the sun, and they move forward by themselves every year. The local almanac has the final word, and the admin can correct any date here.
The dawn of the Devipaksha. Maa Durga is called to come.
Maa is welcomed and the Puja begins.
The sacred bath of the Nabapatrika.
Worship at the meeting of Ashtami and Nabami.
The ninth day of the Puja, the last full day of worship before the farewell.
The farewell to Maa, until she comes again.
Kash flowers on the village paths, young leaves in the sunlight and paddy fields turning green — this is the season in which Maa Durga arrives. These photographs were taken in and around the village.
Everyone is welcome at the Goddess's feet — every villager, every guest, every traveller.
