Basanti Puja 2013

Basanti Puja (বাসন্তী পূজা) is the spring Durga Puja, held in the bright fortnight of Chaitra. It is the older of the two: by the Markandeya Purana, King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi first worshipped the Goddess in spring, on the advice of the sage Medhas.

The days follow the autumn puja: Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami and Navami, with immersion on Dashami. On Ashtami many homes and temples keep Annapurna Puja, worshipping the Mother who feeds the world, and Ram Navami follows on Navami.

Kept quietly in family homes and old temples across Bengal, Basanti Puja is cherished as the Goddess's own season.