AGARTALA, Oct 15 (TIWN):Durga Puja is just around the corner in Tripura on Maha-Shahsthi Day. These five days of festivities are a significant part of every Bengali in any part of the world.

This year Durga puja celebrations have kicked-start today (Panchami) and would go on till 19th October (Vijay Dashami). Durga Puja, as the name suggests, is celebrated in honour of Goddess Durga. According to legends, when all the male Gods were unable to defeat the buffalo demon Mahishasura, they entrusted Goddess Durga with the task of putting an end to his evil doings on earth.

 In a gory battle that ran for several days, Goddess Durga defeated Mahishasura and earned the name of Mahishasura Mardini. 

The epic battle of Durga and Mahishasura is symbolic of the ultimate victory of good over evil. The demon king Mahishasura, performed severe austerities and prayers for years to seek Lord Brahma's boon of immortality. Pleased by his devotion, Lord Brahma appeared in front of him and gave him a saying that his death would happen only at the hands of a woman. Hearing the Mahishasura, began thinking he is invincible and immortal.

He started killing people and disrupted sages in their meditation. It was then that the role of defeating Mahishasura was assumed by Goddess Durga and incarnation of Goddess Shakti. In her 10 arms, Gods vested their most precious arms. The battle ran for several days until Goddess Durga swerved Mahishasura's head with her trishool(three headed spear).