Durga – the goddess of power and strength, is perhaps the most important goddess of the Hindus. She is a multi-dimensional Goddess, with many names, many personas, and many facets. ‘Mother Goddess come Alive’ the nature looks more beautiful with lighting of the lamps and fragrance of the flowers attracts each one of us for celebrations with many incredible things supporting the beauty of life of human beings. The entire universe dips in the bhakthi of the Divine Mother with nine days dedicated to each manifestation of Maa Durga with special offerings of flowers and prasadam. From her favorite flowers to her most glorious Sringaar adorning silver gold and precious gems adding beauty to her divine Swaroopa.
Goddess Durga represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in the universe. She is the energy aspect of the Lord. As Mahishasuramardini or Shakti, she is the destroyer of evil – with her ten mighty arms carrying lethal weapons she triumphantly slays the demon Mahishasura. From ferocious Maa Kali who turns black as the night and omnipotent in the ocean of life in rage and fury numbs the existential beings with her ferocious Swaroopa adorning her neck with a string skull as her garland to another manifestation as Parvatis most serene, the pretty consort of Lord Shiva by his side in the snowy peaks of the Kailash mountain. She is Bhawani, symbol of life. She is Sati, the object of death. She is Basanti, the heralder of springtime besides Amba, Jagadhatri, Tara, Ambika, Annapurna. Durga, through all her forms, encompasses the essence of salvation and sacrifice. She is the divine mother of bounty and wealth, as also of beauty and knowledge.
Various offerings made to please Goddess for nine days amongst them flowers are an integral part of the daily ritual and ceremonial worship. Offering flowers at the feet of the deity is a symbolic act of offering the purest and most sincere feelings to the deity. From Red Hibiscus, Red Kaner which said to be the dearest to Devi Durga to every blooming Lotus to Aparajita, Shankhpushp Gokarna Kadamba, Champa, Bela/Mogra Rajnigandha, Juhi, Chameli and the fiery orange blossoms of Palash to name a few are offered to the beloved Universal Mother who is an inherent dynamic energy through which this supreme consciousness manifests itself.
