Festivals of India – Durga Puja, Dussehra

Date of Issue – 7 October 2008

Wishing you all a Happy Festive Season !!

Hi ! This is the festive week in India. There is fun and ferver of Durga Puja & Dussehra, everywhere all over India. People are in festive mood.On this occasion Greetings to all of you !! Have a Wonderful Time and Enjoy the festive season !!

Durga Puja is celebrated with joy all over India, especially West Bengal in worship of Goddess Durga. Singing, dancing, sweets & gaiety are an integral part of the Durga Pooja Festival. People send Durga Puja Gifts to dear ones and express good wishes.

About Goddess Durga

Durga, in Sanskrit means "She who is incomprehensible or difficult to reach." Goddess Durga is a form of Sakti worshiped for her gracious as well as terrifying aspect. Mother of the Universe, she represents the infinite power of the universe and is a symbol of a female dynamism. The manifestation of Goddess Durga is said to emerge from Her formless essence and the two are inseparable. She is also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Ambika, and Kali. In the form of Parvati, She is known as the divine spouse of Lord Shiva and is the mother of Her two sons, Ganesha and Karttikeya, and daughter Jyoti. Destroyer of demons, she is worshiped during an annual festival called Durga puja, especially popular among Bengalis.

Dussehra

'Ravan Dahan' that involves the burning of the effigies of Ravana.

The festival of Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashmi, is one of the fascinating festivals of India and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm. According to the great Hindu scripture, the Ramayana, Lord Rama performed chandi-puja (holy prayer). This was carried out in order to invoke the blessings of Durga Maa for the killing of Ravana, the ten-headed demon king of Sri Lanka who had abducted Seeta, wife of Lord Rama.

Durga Maa divulged the secret to Rama on how he could slay the great Ravana. Hence upon vanquishing the demon Ravana, Lord Rama with Sita and younger brother Laxmana, returned victorious to his kingdom of Ayodhya on the day which is called 'Diwali'. Revelers across northern India re-enact the legend at sundown in a performance called the Ramlila, featuring actors dressed as Rama shooting flaming arrows at effigies stuffed with firecrackers.

Dassera day is considered a most auspicious day. It is a time-honored belief that if any new venture is started on this day, it is bound to be successful. Hence, all the undertakings be it laying-in of foundation of a new building, opening of a new commercial establishment or even initiating a child into the world of learning- are started on this day. Also on this day implements of agriculture, manufacturer's machines, the intellectuals pens, the household articles, the children's school books are placed before the idol of Durga and worshiped.

FDC’s of 'Sets of Stamps' issued on the same Day -

Predecessors of 'Se - tenant Stamps'

From the collection of Praful Thakkar

This is the collection of our distinguished member Mr. Praful Thakkar of Ahmedabad featuring a variety of FDCs of sets of stamps. In earlier issues variety in sizes and designs of FDCs can be seen.

Centenary of First war of Independence 1857

The above covers show 2 different First Day Cancellations viz 15 Aug 1957 & 16 Aug 1957.

Kalidas – 22.6.60 (FDCs in two sizes)

Wild life Preservation – 7.10.63

Subhash Chandra Bose – 23 .1.64