Demon King Mahishasura, Durga Puja, Mahalaya, Puspanjali, Dipawali, Kalipuja, Festival,Durga Puja Festival : Durgapuja : Durga Puja

An army of demons was gathered, and its king was the Buffalo,the green skinned demon Mahishasura. His vast army, with its weapons of iron, and its phalanxes of elephants and charioteers marched
on the king of gods, Purandara, defeating him. Then, Mahishasura usurped the throne of heaven. The victory was complete, and all the gods were driven from heaven. They went to the three great gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

"We have been dispossessed from heaven, from our home!" they said, "how can it be that heaven is
filled with malevolent demons. How can such a place even be called heaven?"
On hearing the gods' petition for assistance, the face of Lord Vishnu flushed with anger and a
brilliant light flooded forth. Soon, the faces of Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma burned with the same dazzling luminescence. The gods watched in wonder as great flames issued forth in all
directions. The fires illuminated all the three worlds: the heaven, the earth, and the nether-world in penetrating light. (source: www.parallel.park.org/India/Durga)

Durga Puja in Kashmir

Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir but they celebrate their festivals with pomp and show. These days, festivities are subdued, though. The favorite deities of Kashmir are Lord Shiva and Serawali Ma Durga, the one who rides the tiger. Pundits and Muslims alike vouch that Navratri is important. No big pandals here, each Hindu house-hold does the pooja at home. All the adult members of the household fast on water. In the evenings, fruit may be taken. As elsewhere, Kashmiris grow barley in earthen pots. They believe that if the growth in this pot is good, there is prosperity all year.The most important ritual for Kashmiri Pandits is to visit the temple of guardian goddess Kheer Bhawani on all nine days. On the last day of Navratri, an aarti is held at the temple after which people break their fast. On Dussehra day, Ravana's effigy is burnt.

Durga Puja is one of the most important festivel of Bengalies. The festivel goes on for five days. People play dhak, dhunuchi and shiuli on that occasion. The occasion starts from Mahalaya day, the day durga was assigned the task of eliminating evil