Durga Puja

What is Durga Puja?

Durga Puja is the worship of Goddess Durga in the days leading up to Vijayadashami, the tenth day, when Lord Ramacandra's victory over Ravana is remembered. The Vaishnava calendar marks it on Saturday, 17 October 2026, four days before Ramacandra Vijayotsava.

Significance

The Brahma-samhita records the prayers of Lord Brahma to Lord Govinda, the original form of Krishna. In them Durga is the external energy of the Lord, the shadow of His spiritual potency. She creates, maintains and destroys the material world, and she acts only in accordance with the will of Govinda.

The Sanskrit word durga means a prison house. The purport explains that souls who forget Krishna are held in her citadel, and that her work is to purify them. When such a soul turns to the service of Krishna, she herself becomes the means of deliverance.

The external potency Māyā who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit potency, is worshiped by all people as Durgā, the creating, preserving and destroying agency of this mundane world.

Brahma-samhita 5.44

How to observe it

Vaishnavas honour Durga as a servant of Krishna and do not worship her as an independent Lord. The purport teaches that her grace is won by the selfless service of Krishna, and that boons of wealth or good health from her are her deluding kindness. Devotees can read this verse, chant the holy names of Krishna, and ask only for strength to serve Him.