Durga Puja is celebrated widely in South Asia. It is the main festival of Bengal. Bengali eagerly wait for this day. Goddess Durga is worshipped with Shiva (her  husband), in addition to with her four children Laxmi, Ganesh, Kartikeya and Saraswati. 

This festival is celebrated in the month of September-October. It is said that Goddess Durga killed the demon and won over the evil. This festival is worshipped for five days. But the Puja starts with the welcome of Goddess Durga on the day of Mahalaya known as 'Agamani'  in Bengal. The pre dawn program were relayed by All India Radio. On this day people gathered near the ghats of Ganga and offer their prayers to their ancestors which is known as Tarpan in Bengal. Life comes to a stand still during these five days. School , colleges and offices remain holiday during these five days. Many Government offices and private offices give bonus to their employers to enjoy this day. Calcutta takes a new look on these days specially at night. Millions of people come to the city and line up before the pandals. 

People rush to the shop to buy new clothes. On this day every body wears new clothes. Whereever space may be available elaborate structures called pandals were set up. The construction of the puja pandals and the clay idols start a month or two back. These pandals were beautifully decorated with various items an deach has its uniqueness. The idols of Durga Mata is also decorated with artificial ornament and with colorful dresses. The pandals were temporary temple constructed specially for these five days where the idols of Durga Mata are set up and offered prayers. These pandals were made of bamboo and with beautiful decorative clothes. Everywhere inside the pandals the ritual drummers called the "dhakis" carried the large  "dhak" on their shoulder and beat it hardly. They do so to draw attention of local puja comittee and the local people.

Many functions and fairs were held everywhere in Bengal during these five days. The Bengal gain its beauty during these days. Roads are decoarted with lights. The restaurant are packed with people and many temporay stalls  are made throughout the city during these days.  People gathered to celebrate these festival with their family members. Many of them who stays outside Bengal returned to their home town on this special days. The bengali NRI also celebrate this puja. Special image made of light material called thermocol are flown to abroad and Bengali NRI gathered and celebrate this puja. In Bengal many Zaminders also celebrate this puja inside their house and this puja are very famous. Whole night there is bus and metro rail services available. Many people go for tour with their family during these holiday. 

The inauguration of the puja starts on Mahasasti. On this day the mother kept fast for their children and pray for their good health and long life. Then comes Mahasaptami.Then comes Mahaastami the very special day of this puja.On this day everybody keep fast and gathered inside the pandals and the priest loudly say prayers which the people utter and offer flowers in front of the Goddess Durga. This is known as  "Puspanjali" in Bengal. Then there were Yajnas (sacrificial fires) where milk, clarified butter and ghee are offered to Goddess. People prepare various types of dishes and served with great happiness among others and their relatives. Garlands and ropes of flowers were woven as an offering to the goddess. Then comes Mahanavami and Dashmi the end of this puja.

So on the day of Dashmi the clay idol of Durga Mata were taken for the immersion known as  "bhasan or bisorjan"  in Bengal. It is said that on this day Durga Maa returns to her husbands house in  "Kailash"  with her children. These idols are taken out in grand peocession and were immersed into the river Ganga and many people gathered near the ghats of Ganga to watch the immersion. People share sweets among their relatives and visit their relatives house. Dashmi is also known as "Vijay Dashmi"  it means goddess Durga killed the demon and won victory. Bengali all over the world celebrate this great event of their culture.