In Pictures: Durga Puja and Modern Women – Celebrating Strength, Resilience, and the Fight for Justice

Location - Sector 137

Now, for four days every year, Bengalis across the globe worship the deity in all her glory. Each year, Durga is said to return to her home from her in-laws, and the four days of celebration mark her homecoming.

Women pray to the Goddess.Location - Sector 137

Goddess Durga embodies beauty, purity, and greatness. As a Mother figure, she nurtures, protects, and preserves life. She defeats darkness, evil, and falsehood.

A woman holds a diya and an incense stick, while praying.Location - Sector 137.

In totality, she symbolizes women's strength, power, and dignity in the fight against injustice and oppression.

Pushpanjali on Ashtami (the second day of Pujo).Pushpanjali is a sacred offering of flowers to Maa Durga.Location - Sector 137.

Every Woman is A Reflection of Maa Durga

It is often said that every woman is a reflection of Maa Durga, embodying the strength, resilience, and power that the Goddess represents. Just as Maa Durga battled and triumphed over demons, a woman's daily life involves fighting against the forces of misogyny, gender stereotypes, and societal biases.

These struggles, while less visible than the mythical battles, are equally significant, representing a constant effort to overcome the barriers placed on her by a patriarchal society.

Lighting 108 diyas, for Sandhi pujo. Sandhi Puja is a 48-minute ritual that takes place during the last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Nabami.Location - Sector 137.

Yet, despite our deep-rooted devotion to the Goddess and reverence for the feminine divine, the battles of real women remain far from won. Ironically, in a land where we worship goddesses like Durga, there are still temples where women are prohibited from entering. In a country that reveres feminine energy during religious festivals, women continue to face oppression and discrimination in their everyday lives. Each day, headlines remind us of the harsh realities women endure — from rapes to cases of harassment that span across age groups. Women are questioned on every front—clothing, career choices, partner choices, marital choices, and everything in between.

Durga Puja is marked by festivities, fun, and food—elements associated with a daughter’s homecoming. If we gave all daughters the love, respect, kindness, and empathy they deserve, we’d likely see far less hate and crime in the world.

Women perform Dhunuchi naach:

Photo courtesy:Ashish Poddar

Photo courtesy: Ashish Poddar

The Power of Community

Durga Puja brings together women from all ages and walks of life, fostering a unique bond through both devotional practices and cultural events. From on-stage events like dances, recitation, music to religious aspects like serving bhog, collecting flowers and lighting diyas, women come together to make pujo a success.

Offering bhog to the goddess. Location - Sector 137

The celebration underscores the power of collective strength and unity, proving that sisterhood and solidarity among women can achieve far more than the efforts of a single individual. Together, they uplift each other and fight battles that are easier won when supported by a community.

Women of all age groups perform during cultural performances. Pictures:Pushkar Raj Chandna

The Goddess's victory serves as a powerful metaphor: when a woman sets her mind to something, she draws on an inner strength that drives her toward success. Like Durga, her determination allows her to push through obstacles, fight injustices, and achieve what she’s set her mind to. In this way, women continue to channel the divine power of Durga in their everyday lives, confronting oppression and fighting for equality, dignity, and justice.

Women during sindoor khela. Pictures by Ashish Poddar.

Pictures clicked in Durga Puja, Sector 137 and Lotus Panache, Sector 110, Noida.