Leaving behind tales untold and moving ahead with grace and talent a woman is truly an embodiment of beauty, charm and intellect. She is the protector, comforter and destroyer of all evils. Through the ages woman has not only proved to be compassionate but also brave in times of adversity. She is worshipped as the Mother Goddess and is welcomed in different forms in different parts of the world.

The festive season is here and in India this is the month where we place our faith and belief on the mother Goddess. The festival is celebrated at the same time in different ways in different parts of the country. Every year during the lunar month of Ashwin or Kartik (September-October), Hindus observe ten days of ceremonies, rituals, fasts and feasts in honor of the supreme mother goddess. It begins with the fast of “Navaratri” and ends with the festivities of “Dasshera” and “Vijayadashami.”

Durga Pooja. 
Durga is the most beautiful manifestation of Devi. She gained her power from different Gods and she had invincible powers to destroy the evil. She was created to kill the buffalo-demon Mahisa. Unable to kill the demon the gods thought of creating a very powerful goddess who would be able to kill Mahisa and when all the powers of the Gods were brought together there emerged Goddess Durga, the one who was beautiful, serene and strong.

Mahisa heard about Durga who was beautiful and resided on the top of the mountain. Mahisa wanted to make her his queen but the Devi rejected his proposal. He was so furious that he sent his army to bind her in chains and bring her before him but the whole army was killed. Mahisa went and asked her why she was not willing to marry the great demon king To this Durga replied that she would marry only that person who defeats her in a battle. Hearing this Mahisa was ready for a fight and then there was a fierce battle. At last Durga killed the demon and peace reigned once again.

In eastern India, especially in Bengal, the Durga Pooja is the principal festival during Navaratri. It is celebrated with vivacity and devotion through public ceremonies of “Sarbojanin Pooja” or community worship. Huge decorative temporary structures called “pandals” are constructed to house these grand prayer services, followed by mass feeding, and cultural functions

Navaratri
It is the festival of nights, which lasts for nine days and each goddess is worshipped for three days i.e. Ma Durga, Ma Lakshmi and Ma Saraswati is worshipped

1st - 3rd day of Navratri 
On the first day of the Navaratras, a small bed of mud is prepared in the Pooja room of the house and barley seeds are sown on it. On the tenth day, the shoots are about 3 - 5 inches in length. After the Pooja, these seedlings are pulled out and given to devotees as a blessing from god. These initial days are dedicated to Durga Maa, the Goddess of power and energy.

4th - 6th day of Navratri 
On these days Lakshmi Maa, the Goddess of peace and prosperity is worshipped. On the fifth day, which is known as Lalita Panchami, it is traditional to gather and display all literature available in the house, light a lamp or 'diya' to invoke Saraswati Maa, the Goddess of knowledge and art. 

7th - 8th day of Navratri 
These final days belong to Saraswati Maa who is worshipped to acquire the spiritual knowledge. This in turn will free us from all earthly bondage. But on the 8th day of this colourful festival, yagna (holy fire) is performed. Ghee (clarified butter), kheer (rice pudding) and sesame seeds form the holy offering to Goddess Durga Maa.

Lakshmi Pooja
Goddess Lakshmi is the goddess of abundance and the better half of Lord Vishnu. The word 'Lakshmi' is derived from the Sanskrit word Laksya, meaning 'aim' or 'goal', and she is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual. Lakshmi Pooja is celebrated on the full moon night of Kojagari Purnima.

Lord Vishnu declared Indra the king but he was so much engrossed in pleasure that he neglected his royal duties. The earth was left ungoverned and so the goddess dissolved herself in the ocean of milk.

Everything came to a standstill and not a single material had any value. Everything was barren and the cosmos became an isolated place with no laughter and joy.

To bring back peace and prosperity the gods and the demons started churning the ocean of milk. Pleased by their effort the goddess finally emerged as Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Lakshmi is depicted as a beautiful woman of golden complexion, with four hands, sitting or standing on a full-bloomed lotus and holding a lotus bud, which stands for beauty, purity and fertility. Her four hands represent the four ends of human life: dharma or righteousness, kama or desires, artha or wealth, and moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

On the full moon night following Dasshera or Durga Pooja, Hindus worship Lakshmi ceremonially at home, pray for her blessings, and invite neighbors to attend the Pooja. It is believed that on this full moon night the goddess herself visits the homes and bestows the inhabitants with wealth. A special worship is also offered to Lakshmi on the auspicious Diwali night.

Kali Pooja
Kali Pooja is one of the major festivals for people in West Bengal and they celebrate the occasion with much delight and zeal. Just as people in North India light lamps to honour Lakshmi Ma during Lakshmi Pooja, people in West Bengal celebrate Kali Pooja by lighting lamps in honour of Goddess Kali. Houses are decorated and elaborate Rangoli pattern are drawn in front of houses and courtyard. As Goddess Kali is regarded as the Goddess to be feared Bengalis leave no stone unturned in carrying out a special Pooja for her. Through Pooja people seek happiness, prosperity and protection against hardships. 

According to legends, Shambhu and Nishambhu, the demon kings grew in force and pose a challenge to Indra, King of Gods, and his Kingdom of Heaven. Gods sought protection from Mahamaya Durga, the Goddess of Shakti or Power. At this stage Goddess Kali was born from Durga's forehead as Kal Bhoi Nashini to save heaven and earth from the growing cruelty of the demons. 

After slaughtering the demons, Kali made a garland of their heads and wore it around her neck. In the bloodbath, she lost control and started killing anyone who came her way. There was chaos all around. To stop her from doing this Lord Shiva threw him under her feet. Shocked at this sight, Kali stuck out her tongue in astonishment, and put an end to her killing spree. The well-known picture of Kali Ma shown with her tongue hanging out actually depicts the moment when she steps on Lord Shiva and repents. 

That momentous day is celebrated ever since as Kali Pooja. Performing the Pooja with faith devotees seek protection against drought and war and blessings of general happiness, health and prosperity. Kali Pooja is celebrated on the Amavasya or the no moon night in the Hindu month of Kartik (October/November). This date of Kali Pooja coincides with Diwali, the North Indian New Year or the Festivals of Lights.

Dasshera
Dasshera is an important festival of the Hindus. Dasshera also symbolises the triumph of warrior goddess Durga over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. Dussehra is also known as Vijaya Dasami, because of the victory of Ram over Ravana. On this day in Satya Yug, Ram (the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu), killed the great demon and king of Lanka, Ravana. Puranas also opined that in this day warrior Goddess Durga defeated and killed the buffalo demon Mahishasura..

The tenth day is devoted to the worship of goddess Durga, who occupies a special position. 'Shakti'. Beautiful idols of the Mother Goddess are worshipped in elaborate pandals for nine days, and on the ninth day, these are carried out in procession for immersion (visarjan) in a river or pond.

There are different forms of the Goddess and in each form she emerges as the winner. She is the one who helps us during the time of need and praying to her in different forms gives us the courage to face any situation. Only through her blessing can we gain material as well as spiritual comfort. She is the Shakti that Brahma uses to create the world,