The greater Akron Hindu Sewa Samittee (AHSS) organized Durga puja on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 750 Tallmadge Rd, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. A large crowd of around five hundred people – men and women, old and young, white Americans and people from other religious and cultural backgrounds took part enthusiastically in the function throughout the day. Recitation of Chandi, Holy Scriptures by priests, performing different rituals, and singing hymns and dances were some of the distinctive aspects of the program.

Although tradition of celebrating Durga puja is very common among Hindu communities worldwide, the nature of celebration differs from regions to regions and nations to nations.  Every year this festival falls during lunar months of Asoj or Kartik (September- October). Generally Hindus observe ten days of ceremonies, rituals, fasts and feasts in honor of the supreme mother Goddess, Durga.  It begins with the fast of Nava ratri (nine nights) and ends with the festivities of “Dusshera” or Vijaya Dashami – the triumph of good over the evil on the tenth Day and marks the defeat and death of demon king Ravana by Lord Rama in the epic, “Ramayana.”