SIGNIFICANCE OF GODDESS’ ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

The arrival of Goddess Durga is considered very auspicious. However, the vahan (mount) that she chooses to come in is just as important. Every year, Goddess Durga arrives in a specific vahan and chooses another for her departure. Her mounts include elephant, horse, palanquin, boat or a buffalo. . As per the Bengali calendar, Goddess Durga will arrive this year on a nauka (boat) and depart for Kailash on a horse. The arrival of the goddess on a boat indicates excessive rain and floods but is good for agriculture and departure on horse symbolises massive devastation and war, say priests. The arrival and departure of the goddess carries a message and indication for the country, feel the priests and say that the indications often come true. The recent floods in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country that caused damage to property are an indication of what the arrival of the goddess indicates. “Each year, according to the day of arrival and departure of the goddess, her vaahan (mode of travel) is decided. Sometimes the arrival is on something that indicates bad omen but the departure is on a thing that indicates good and balances the effect. But this year, both the modes indicate bad omen,” says Chandra Shekhar Bhattacharya, a purohit. In the state capital, the rain gods have halted the preparations of durga puja. The rain is continuing for the last 4-5 days and the organisers busy with the preparations say that this has affected their work. Water proof pandal were made to ensure that the rain did not cause damage to the idols, said a puja organiser.