Legends
Durga is the Goddess of divine power against all evils. The story goes that Mahishasur, the Buffalo Demon, through years of praying, received blessings from Lord Brahma, that no power can kill him which means he is invincible.
But once gaining this power he started ravaging the whole world and killing people and eventually wanted to uproot the Gods too. The Gods, in dismay, combined their powers to create a beautiful maiden, and each placed his or her most potent weapon in one of her ten hands riding a lion.
Her return in each year in the Hindu month of Ashwin (September-October) commemorates Rama's invocation of the goddess Durga before he went into battle with Ravana.
The traditional image of the Bengali Durga follows the iconographic injunctions of the Shastras. It is similar to the Durga of Aihole and of Mahabalipuram (seventh century).
The tableau of Durga with her four children - Kartik, Ganesh, Saraswati and Lakshmi, representing respectively the Protector, the Initiator of the puja, Knowledge and the Provider - signifies the complete manifestation of the goddess.
The celebration of Durga Puja in the month of Ashwin is also known as Akalbodhon or untimely celebration. It is called Akalbodhon because the time of worship differs from the conventional period which is spring or Basanta. In Ramayana, it is said that Lord Ram wanted the blessings of the Mother Goddess in order to save his wife Sita from the clutches of Ravana.
Satisfied with Ram’s devotion, Durga appeared before him and showered her blessings. Since Ram evoked the Goddess during autumn this period of worship is therefore known as ‘Akalbodhon’.
According to other traditions, it is believed that Lord Shiva permitted Durga to visit her mother only for nine days in a year.
This festival of Durga Puja therefore marks her visit to her mother’s place and ends with the Vijaya Dashmi day, when Goddess Durga leaves for her return to Mount Kailash.