Durga Puja

What is danced for Durga Puja

Durga Puja is the greatest festival of Bengal. The goddess, who killed the buffalo demon, is believed to come to her parents' home for a few days with her children. Neighbourhoods build temporary temples and set up clay images of her. At the evening worship, drummers beat the dhak, a large drum hung from the shoulder. Then men and women take up the dhunuchi, a clay bowl of burning coconut husk and incense, and dance with it before the goddess. They hold it in the hands, and sometimes balance it between the teeth.

The dances

Dhunuchi danceThe dance with the smoking incense bowl, before the goddess.Dhunuchi nrityaThe clay incense burner that the dancers carry.