Today is Bijoy Dashami (or Vijay Dashimi) the final day of Durga Puja or simply pujo as we Bengalis call it. It is the most important festival for Bengalis.
Today, Durga, the beloved daughter of the family, returns to her husband’s home after visiting her maternal home for four days. The backstory goes thusly.
Durga is married to Shiva, an eccentric yogi who resides on icy Mount Kailash. He doesn’t care much for a domestic life. He hangs out with all sorts of characters who exist on the fringes of society.
Shiva’s day job is vital, though. He is the adi-yogi, the original yogi. He gave the world the knowledge of yoga. More than that, he is Nataraja, the king of dancers. Shiva as Nataraja dances the universe into existence and also dances it out of existence. The cycle of creative destruction has to go on.
That dance is known as the Tandava. It’s Shiva’s cosmic dance. Continue reading “Shubho Bijoya!”
