by Edna Sousa
Durga is the Hindu warrior goddess. Her name represents the inaccessible or the invincible. She has other names, including Pavarti, Ambika and Kali. It’s said that Durga goddess is the Great Mother. She is the consort of Shiva and the mother of Ganesha, Kartikeya and Lakshmi. There is, perhaps, no goddess in the Hindu pantheon more important and significant than Durga. Durga is a Devi or Feminine Divine, and is called Maa Durga (Mother Durga).

The durga goddess is believed to have extremely bright, curly, beautiful hair, three red eyes, and golden-red skin. It is said that there was a Demon, son of the king of the demons, who mated with a buffalo and, because his prayers to Brahma, could never be killed by any man alive. So the gods created Durga, the Hindu warrior goddess, to kill the demon.

The Durga image is usually represented with eight or ten arms — all containing weapons. She is riding a tiger or a lion, which signifies her courage and independence. She is often represented with a necklace of skulls, alluding to her connection with the underground and dark energies. She has become a symbol of feminine power and the end of female submission throughout the world…and many women come together in Durga Pujas (group rituals) to honor the goddess and claim her energy for themselves.

The celebration for Durga happens in Navratri, and takes place over the course of nine nights dedicated to various Hindu goddesses, including Lakshmi, Shakti and, of course, Durga herself. The festival start in beginning of winter between September and October. Some parts of India celebrate the 9-night ritual, but normally Durga is celebrated for just four days. During the celebration, women place red markings on their faces. The Durga festival is a big celebration in the streets with music, food, and dance; in the end, the Durga image is bathed in the river.

Here is one of the many Durgha mantras for you:
“Om Dum Durgayei namaha” meaning “Salutations to the Feminine Energy.”