Shubho Bijoya…! Stay blessed… Durga Puja held as Sharadutsav is actually “untimely” and thus called Akal Bodhan (or the untimely invocation). That is why the Puja held in October or nearabouts (the month of Ashwin in Lunar calendar) begins with Bodhan (to awake or invoke). Durga was worshipped during Spring. But the origin of Shardiye Navaratra – which is more popular – owes its tradition to the Ramayan. In Ramayan, Ram had to battle Ravan, the king of Lanka, who had abducted his wife. The story goes that Ram was unable to defeat Ravan to get back Sita despite using all tactics of warfare. He then decided to invoke Goddess Durga though it was Autumn and not the time for her Puja. One of the rituals required the offering of 108 blue lotuses. But every time Ram made the offering, there was a flower short! The reason being that Ravan had already invoked Durga in his favour! And she was bound by her word! An exasperated Ram is said to then have then decided to offer ...