Bāsantī Pūjā 2247

Bāsantī Pūjā (বাসন্তী পূজা) is the spring Durga Puja, held in the bright fortnight of Caitra. It is the older of the two: by the Markandeya Purana, King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi first worshipped the Goddess in spring, on the advice of the sage Medhas.

The days follow the autumn puja: Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami and Navami, with immersion on Daśamī. On Aṣṭamī many homes and temples keep Annapūrṇā Pūjā, worshipping the Mother who feeds the world, and Rāma Navamī follows on Navami.

Kept quietly in family homes and old temples across Bengal, Basanti Puja is kept as the Goddess's own season.