What is Durga Puja?
Durga Puja honours Mother Durga, the goddess who manages the material world. In 2027 it falls on Wednesday, 6 October, in the days leading up to Vijayadashami, when devotees celebrate the defeat of Ravana.
Significance
Devotees recall that before Lord Ramacandra attacked Ravana, He Himself approached Mother Durga for her blessing. By doing so the Lord showed the humility with which a devotee should meet any obstacle on the way to his spiritual goal.
Lord Krishna explains her true position in the Bhagavad-gita, which He spoke to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra:
This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, producing all moving and nonmoving beings.
Bhagavad-gita 9.10
Material nature, which creates and withdraws all living beings, always works under Krishna's direction, and so Durga never acts apart from Him.
How to observe it
Vaishnavas offer their respects to Mother Durga as the energy of the Lord, while keeping their own attention fixed on Krishna. Spend the day hearing the pastimes of Lord Ramacandra, which the Ninth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam describes, and chant Krishna's holy names with special care.
Questions
When is Durga Puja in 2027?
Durga Puja falls on Wednesday, 6 October 2027, in the Vaishnava calendar for Kurukshetra. Ramacandra Vijayotsava follows four days later, on Sunday, 10 October.
Why did Lord Ramacandra worship Goddess Durga?
He sought her blessing before He attacked Ravana. Devotees see in this the Lord teaching the humility a devotee should show when obstacles stand in his path.
Does Durga act independently of Krishna?
No. In Bhagavad-gita 9.10 Lord Krishna says that material nature is one of His energies and that it works under His direction.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Wednesday, 6 October 2027
- Energy of
- Lord Krishna
Seva for this day
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