A Durga Puja glossary: 58 Bengali and Sanskrit words explained, from anjali, bodhon and dhunuchi to sindoor khela, daker saaj, bonedi bari and thakur dekha.
Alpana drawn at the doorstep in rice paste and chalk water. Photo: Shonamug, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Worship by waving lamps, incense, conch, cloth, flowers and other items before the goddess, usually morning and evening, accompanied by the dhak and bells.
Dhakis playing the dhak at a Durga Puja. Photo: AjayDas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
The awakening of the goddess on Shashthi evening, traditionally performed under or with a branch of a bel (wood apple) tree.
Bodhon, the awakening of the goddess, on the evening of Shashthi. Photo: Goutam1962, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
The large barrel-shaped drum of Bengal, played with two sticks and decorated with plumes of kash flowers or feathers; the signature sound of the puja.
Dhakis playing the dhak at a Durga Puja. Photo: AjayDas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
The formal start of the puja on Shashthi morning, when the ghat is installed and the resolve (sankalpa) to perform the worship is made.
A kalash (ghat) with a lamp, leaves and flowers, set up for worship. Photo: Ashish Suryavanshi858, CC0, Wikimedia Commons.
Nine plants bound together and worshipped as forms of the goddess, bathed at dawn on Saptami: banana, colocasia, turmeric, jayanti, bel, pomegranate, ashoka, arum and paddy.
Kola Bou, the banana plant bride, is carried to the pond for her bath on Saptami morning. Photo: Goutam1962, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
The Bengali everyday pronunciation of puja; on its own, 'Pujo' usually means Durga Puja itself.
Alpana drawn at the doorstep in rice paste and chalk water. Photo: Shonamug, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Idol ornaments carved from shola, the white spongy pith of a marsh plant, giving a classic white decorative look.
Alpana drawn at the doorstep in rice paste and chalk water. Photo: Shonamug, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
A name of Parvati as the daughter of Himalaya and Menaka; in Bengali songs Durga Puja is Uma's yearly homecoming.
Alpana drawn at the doorstep in rice paste and chalk water. Photo: Shonamug, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
A Durga Puja glossary: 58 Bengali and Sanskrit words explained, from anjali, bodhon and dhunuchi to sindoor khela, daker saaj, bonedi bari and thakur dekha.
Durga Puja glossary → Next story: Goddess Durga and her family: reading the image All photo storiesMusic: Sitar sample yaman, Tito Dutta, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.