How Durga puja started in Eastern India

Hello friends, Shubha Vijaya... After a long break I am here again with a new story of a new destination. Today, I have come to you with a mythological story, very much connected to the Durga puja in West Bengal. Actually, I was all ready to post this story before the Puja times, but due to some unavoidable circumstances I failed to post this story as per plannings. But still the puja spirit is not over as Diwali is coming. So, lets start our journey. 

        In West Bengal, Durga puja is celebrated all through with a lot of splendor and luxury. We enjoy pandal hopping, family outing, party with friends, eating at restaurents etc, and for people like me puja times gives the essential break to explore new places in India. But one question always was in my mind that from when did such celebration started? As per history there is an answer which is different, but as per mythology there are 2 answers. And in this story I  will take you to a place which is the answer of the question. 

        According to the Markandeya Purana, once there was a king named Surath, who ruled over a vast area of Rarh region of present West Bengal and North-eastern Jharkhand. His capital was Swapura. He was a just and powerful ruler, but in some circumstances he lost all his property and command over his area. Dejected King Surath fled away from his capital and ventured in the forests surrounding his kingdom to re-explore his fate. In the mean time, he met a rich businessman, Vaishya Samadhi, who was bankrupt and was cheated by his near relatives. Both of them where in the same aim to bring back their fate. Inside the jungle they somehow came across a saint known as SuMedhas Muni. Hearing the story of them, the saint advised them to worship Devi Chandi. 

Durga Idol making

        As per the advice of SuMedhas muni, Surath and Vaishya Samadhi worshiped Devi Chandi in the Ashram of the saint. After worshipping, it is said that Surath again acquire all his lost property and command over his area and set back to Swapura, his capital.

        As per legends, from this time every year King Surath worshipped Durga in his capital and in this puja a lot of animal were being sacrificed to goddess Durga. From this, the city Swapura got the name Bolipur (present Bolpur), which means city of sacrifice. But this puja was not performed on Autumn. It is perfromed on spring. So this puja is known as Vasanti Puja. Still today, Vasanti Puja is celebrated in South West Bengal, Jharkhand and North Odisha. 

Devi Singhavahini at the Singhavahini Temple

        There are a lot of debate on the matter that how durga puja started in autumn in West Bengal and other parts of eastern India. As Durgapuja in the autumnal time has a mytholgical story which is associated with Northern India, some scholars opines that it started during Sena period when a huge number of Bramhins were brought to Bengal from Northern India. According to some scholars autumnal durga puja in West Bengal started in Mughal period as a result of Rajput invasion in Eastern India. According to some scholars autumnal Durga puja was a culture brought by Zaminders during later medieval period, as this zaminders and majority of their officials were rooted from present Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana. There are a lot of debate in the fact that from when and how Durga puja started to be celebrated in autumn. But here there is no debate in this story and it is accepted all over that Raja Surath was the first person to perform Durga Puja in spring.

Ashram of Medhas Muni

        This is the story of how Durga puja is started. And it is Medhas Ashram the place where Raja Surath performed the first Durga Puja. On my trip to Garh Jungle, I visited the beautiful place where still now Chandi is worshipped all year round in the Singhavahini Temple and during the time of Durga puja, traditional rituals followed by King Surath is still performed. Enthusiasts can also explore the place where King Surath first worshipped Devi Chandi inside the forest. Just opposite the Medhas Ashram is the Garh Chandi Temple. It is said that Garh Chandi was the family deity of Ichai Chosh, who once ruled over this area and had a fort in this area which is totally ruined. I will tell the story of Ichai Ghosh and his fort in my next blog as that is a totally different story.

        While visiting this place one question came to my mind and I asked a priest of the Singhavahini Temple about it. The question is how this ashram is discovered inside the forest, which once happened to be a fortress of a local lord. According to him this ashram was discovered by Jogiraj Bramhananda Giri, a sage of Dasnami Cult very popular in Birbhum-Bardhaman-Dumka belt. In 1991 Bramhananda Giri was in Bolpur and was taking initiative of making an ashram. One night, Devi Chandi came in his dreams and told him about this place inside the forest on the opposite side of River Ajai near Joydev Kenduli. This was the beginning. He discovered the place after some local inquiries and discovered the Garh Chandi Temple by unearthing the anthills in 1994.

Yagna Kunda for performing Yagna

       Hope you have gone through the whole story about the worlds first durga puja. So have a plan for visiting this place and experience the mythological and historical stories. There are many other places of interests nearby which will make your trip very enjoyable. Very soon I will share my detailed experience in Garh Jungle with the history of this place all other tourist spot in this location. Today's story of  Durga puja is a return gift to all the viewers of this page from my side. Hope you are enjoying the contents in this page. You can suggest me places of your choice and your suggestions are always welcome. Comment me about your views in the comment section of this blog and you can also connect with me through my facebook page Traveller Raja, where you too can share your travel experiences. 

        So, today its time to bid good bye.. Thank you...