Vishwakarma Puja is one the famous festival in India that is dedicated to Lord Vishwakarma. This Puja is synonymously known as Vishwakarma Jayanti, Vishwakarma Diwas or Vishwakarma day. Vishwarkarma is a Hindu God and a divine architect who created this universe.

The Vishwakarma festival is celebrated every year on 17^th September. This festival is also observed according to solar calendar instead of lunar calendar. The festival is celebrated on the Kanya Sankranti i.e. when the Lord Surya leaves Leo zodiac sign and enters Virgo sign.

The people also do celebrate the Vishwakarma puja a day after the Diwali festival which is called Govardhan puja.

The puja time might differ little from place to place according to different Hindu Panchangs. You can follow your local Panchang to know the timing or you may ask your local astrologer who can guide you regarding the Puja Muhurt.

History of the Vishwakarma Puja

According to the Hindu mythology, scripture and ancient astrology books, Lord Vishwakarma is the divine architect of the world. He engineered the creation of the whole world.

He is said to have constructed the Holy city of Dwaraka which was ruled by Lord Krishna. Lord Vishwakarma also engineered very powerful and unique weapons for the God. He also developed the Mahasabha of Pandavas.

As per the opinion available in the Rig Veda, Vishwakarma is known as divine carpenter. He is the creator of the Sthaptya Veda, the science of architecture and mechanics.

The Vishwakarma Puja is celebrated across different states in India such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Assam, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Tripura.

The festival is most importantly celebrated in the industrial topography and among the factories especially on the floor of the Shop or manufacturing head office.

The engineering and architectural community do pray and worship as a mark of reverence on the occasion of the Vishwakarma Jayanti. All the craftsmen, carpenters, engineers, mechanics, smiths, wielders, factory workers and industrial workers get united and pray the Lord Vishwakarma.

The Lord Vishwakarma is worshipped for the safety of the factory, manufacturing units, machineries and betterment of the people working over there.

A special statue or idol is installed nearby every factory or workplace. These days, some people do install Lord Vishwakarma in a place according to the Vedic Vastu Shastra.

How to celebrate Vishwakarma Jayanti

Generally, the factories and manufacturing units are closed on the days of Vishwakarma. All the family members of the factories get united. The people install the colourful pandals for the Puja performance.

The well decorated idols of Lord Vishwakarma is installed in the Pandal according to the rituals in the Hindu scripture. The important tools are worshiped in the name of Vishwakarma. Even the profession of every individual of the factories are worshiped in the name of God of the architecture. The tools are not used until next day.

The offering or Prasad is distributed among the people. The people go for the lunch once the Puja performance is over.

Nowadays, most of the companies are equipped with IT. Hence the electronic machineries, computers and servers are worshipped in the name Lord Vishwakarma.

Durga Puja is one the most notable festivals in India that takes place every year either in the month September or October. Although Durga Puja a Hindu festival celebrated all over the world, it is especially celebrated in the East India such as West Bengal and Odisha with great splendour. This year Durga Puja will begin on 26th September 2017 (Tuesday) and end on 30th September 2017 (Saturday)

The Puja for Goddess Durga is observed according Hindu calendar in the month of Ashvin. It is not only celebrated in India but also across the world by Hindu people. The festival is known as Dashain in Bangladesh and Nepal. It is one of the major festivals in India among the people of Shaktism and Shakta Hindu diaspora.

Durga Puja festival is celebrated across the country with the marks of battle between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura a deceptive and powerful buffalo demon. It is also symbol of triumph of good over evil. There is another story behind the worship also. Generally, it happens during the harvest season. Therefore, there is a belief that the Goddess Durga blesses us for having food as she is the motherly power behind the creation of life on the earth.

The festival of Vijayadashami takes place at the end of Navaratri in the 10^th days of Ashvin Shukla Paksha. During the festival of Vijayadashami there are many kinds of drama happen such as Ram Lila and effigies of Lord Ravan is burnt.

During the festival of Durga Puja, the Goddess Durga is the primary Goddess who is revered, however, her stages do features other Gods like Lord Ganesh, Lord Kartikeya, Goddess Lakshami and Goddess Saraswati etc.

History of Durga Puja

According to Indian archaeological documents and text available, Durga is a Goddess who is revered among the Hindu people. However, the history of Durga Puja is still quite in the dark as to when it was originated. Some surviving manuscripts from 14^th century describes the guideline of the Durga Puja.

The historical documents suggests that the Durga Puja festivities were sponsored by royal and wealthy family since at least 16^th century AD. The Jainism text Yasatilaka by Somadeva denotes that an annual festival was dedicated to the warrior Goddess during 11^th or 12^th century. This warrior Goddess was worshipped by the King and his army. This decryptions symbolize the worship of Goddess Durga.

The name Durga is seen in the hymn of Rigveda 4.28, 5.34, 8.27, 8.47, 8.93 and 10.127 and in the sections 10.1 and 12.4 of the Atharvaveda. A deity Durgi by name is seen in the section of 10.1.7 of the Taittiriya Aranyaka, while the Vedic literature uses the name as Durga.

The “Devi Mahatmya” a main text which is associated with Durga Puja celebration and it is recited during the Durga festival. The Goddess Durga was likely to be well established before the Hindu scriptures were composed.

The Goddess Durga seems to be an independent Deity since Ancient Indian Hindu culture. In Mahabharat, both Yudhisthira and Arjun have prayed Goddess Durga.

Various Indian text differs in their opinion about the Durga festival. Some ancient mythology say it as Autumnal festival, while, some other texts say it as spring festival.

Durga Puja and its synonym

The Goddess Durga has different names and synonyms. The Durga festival is called as Akalbodhan in West Bengal, Odisha and Assam. The terms Akalbodhan means untimely awakening of Maa Durga. The other synonyms are Sharodotsab (festival of autumn), Sharadiya Puja (autumnal worship), Maha Puja (a grand worship), Maayer Pujo (Puja of the mother) and Durga Puja.

Even it merely called Pujo or puja in West Bengal. The Durga Puja in Bangladesh used to be observed as Bhagabati Puja. It is popularly known as Durga Puja across different states in India such as West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi.

Durga festivals is known as Navratri Puja in the various states in India. The Navratri Puja is celebrated in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. Dussehra is also a popular name for the Durga festival in India. It is called Kullu Dussehra Kullu Valley and Himachal Pradesh, Mysore Dussehra in Mysore and Karnataka. It also known as Bommala Koluvu in Andhra Pradesh and Bommai Golu in Tamil Nadu.

Customs and practices

Durga festival in India is basically a 10 days event. The last five days are extremely important for the festival which is celebrated with great grandeur. The popular Durga festival starts with Mahalaya. Mahalaya is a day when the Hindus pay homage to the loved one who have died.

The most significant day of the festival is 6^th day of 10days event. The 6^th day is called Shasthi according to the Hindu calendar. The Goddess Durga is invited or welcomed by the people on the 6^th day of Puja. The 7^th day is called Saptami, 8^th day is called Ashtami, and 9th day is called Navami which are main days of the festival. During these days Goddess Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Lord Ganesh, and Karthikeya are worshipped with great reverence.

During the festival of Devi, the scriptures are recited and Devi Mahatmya is read. A lot of social visits happen. The people usually visit the well decorated temple, pandals and stages.

There is a popular belief among the people about the connection of agriculture and the importance of Durga Puja as it happens post-monsoonal harvest season. The post-monsoonal harvest festival takes place on the same day in the Shaktism tradition of Hindu religion. The practice includes 9 different plants called ‘’Navpatrika’’ the nature’s symbol of Goddess Durga is a testament practice which indicates its agricultural significance.

The festival is also a grand social and public event. The people celebrate in the different places of the cities. The pandals and stages are decorated. The road show, drama and giant Durga temples are built. The well-decorated thrones are crafted by various metals across the country.