Durga Puja gets UNESCO Heritage Tag
Recently Durga Puja is now imprint on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Durga Puja is more than the periodically observed navratra in the subcontinent. A joyous autumn harvest festival. Spiritually, it marks the battle of Devi Durga with the king of asuras, Lord Mahishasura. Devi Durga is dashabhujadhari (ten-armed), the weapons she holds in each gifted to her by the devas responsible for her srishti (creation). Her stance is decidedly ferocious, as she is mounted on an equally ferocious lion. She has brought the arrogant Mahishasura to his knees: the spear-end of her trishool (trident) pierces the demon's body and draws blood, resulting in his vadh (killing). The central figure is flanked by Ganesha-Lakshmi to her right and Sarasvati-Kartik to her left. Above the crown of Ma Durga, at the highest point of the aureole, is placed an image of her Lord Shiva. In general, the worship of Durga Puja is a celeb...