These last couple of weekends witnessed a different travel- the one of Hindu Goddess Durga come to earth from the skies with her 4 kids. This is an annual trip by the family, and this tradition is celebrated across the world.
Who is Durga
In the elusive mythical world of gods and demons, a demon (Mahishasura) got very powerful and was torturing the gods and driving them away.
The Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiv) got together and with the help of the lesser gods created this power (female form) and it’s manifestation was Durga.
Durga’s husband is none other than Shiva and she has 4 children.
Her weapons are symbolic – she has 10 hands that carry 10 different weapons she has received from the Gods.
As complex as mythology is, we, celebrate the homecoming of Goddess Durga when she descends from the heavens to the Earth for 4 days .
Where humans create Gods
To symbolize her homecoming, idols ( the Goddess and her children) are made with clay and other biodegradable material.
The idols are traditionally decorated with Eco friendly- biodegradable material – Shola.
Some interesting trivia
Kolkata puja is listed as Intangible UNESCO heritage site
Kumartuli- almost all idols are made in this small village , where, for generations, this has been their main occupation
Sonagachi- for centuries, the first lump of clay that is used to create the Goddess comes from Sonagachi. This was once Asia’s largest red light area.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonagachi
The earthly abode- city of Joy
When the Goddess comes home, she and her family stay in style.
In Kolkata and all around the world, makeshift structures, pandals, are built for keeping her idol for 4 days during her stay on earth
The pandals started as a room in a house or a makeshift tent in a neighborhood but have morphed into grandiose structures and a million dollar industry. Neighborhoods compete with each other to erect a better pandal.
As a result, poeple in Kolkata have seen the world without touring it- whether it’s the Burj Khalifa or the Vatican, they have been memorialized as a pandal at some point or other. Even Van Gogh paintings have visited the city through this living art.
An ode to Van Gogh- Starry nights
This photo illustrates the humble beginnings of the Vatican .
It takes 4-5 months of heavy production work- design and construction and provides livelihood to hundreds of technicians and workers who build these just for 4 days.
After the celebrations – an emotional farewell
After 4 days of celebration ( prayers, offerings , social events) , the Goddess and her family are taken to holy Ganges or a local water body and immersed.
This is probably the most adrenaline rushed moment, as the year’s hard work and merriment meets the waters.
Home turf – Southern California
While Kolkata tours the world, the Goddess is hosted in Southern California in 3 organizations in no less of a style
However, the four days of festivities are crunched into a 2.5 day weekend. The duration may be smaller, but the excitement is unparalleled.
Both the organizations charge a nominal membership fee to cover the renting of facilities ( usually a high school), mouthwatering meals for all the days as well as entertainment).
It is a monumental effort to organize these events, since the organizers are all volunteers from the community who survive on Red Bull and caffeine shots in the last few months prior to the big weekend.
The offerings
Photo sessions
Insta worthy photos have become the blueprint of this event. People meticulously plan for days on what to wear, how to coordinate with the family, for the Insta worthy pictures.
Another phenomenon- the award for the most number of people in a single frame goes to…
Bring your money…
Lights, camera, action…
The organizers spend a concerted effort to get sponsors to provide solid support entertainment for 3 days. Musicians, singers ( local and from India) are brought in to put up an Oscar worthy show.
So long…it’s time to say goodbye
After 3 days of adrenaline packed activities, traditional and non- traditional, Sunday evening comes around. It’s that time again… a time to say goodbye
The Goddess represents the feminine energy in its purest form. The ladies wish her adieu by smearing her and each other with Sindoor (vermillion) to the sounds of the traditional drums.
In our part of the world, the idols are made of fiber glass and used and stored for many years. On Sunday evening, it’s pack up time, the u-haul is brought in and She symbolically goes back to the celestial skies.
An emotion lived through
Through the 4 days or the weekend, we live through an emotion – of a Mother coming home with her kids, celebrating with Her people and going back to her celestial home. As we pray with the collective consciousness, we feel the energy of the idols coming to life.
To us , She is our eternal bliss, our perennial hope and a reminder that the circle of life goes on..She leaves momentarily, but lives in our senses- Until she comes again.. next year.
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Of travels far and near 
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