In India’s Eastern and Northeast regions, the Sharad Navaratri celebration overflows with festivities and fanfare. Several cultural programmes are organised from the sixth till the ninth day. It is time for a ‘kitchen shut down’ as families get together in the Durga pandal (a temporary structure built on open land) for community lunches and dinners. Dance, music and dramas are the main highlights of the celebrations. A popular dance performed during Durga Puja is Dhunuchi Naach. After the evening prayers, people await Dhunuchi performances with bated breaths. It is a traditional, devotional dance performed in front of Goddess Durga and other idols. The dancers (men, women or children) carry a clay pot (called Dhunuchi) with a handle. This pot is filled with smouldering coconut husk and coal. Then a plant resin powder called ‘dhuno’, and camphor is sprinkled on top for a fragrant smoke. The dancers hold one Dhunuchi pot, sometimes even two or three, while dancing elegantly to the drumbeats. They smile and perform in front of the deity revering and thanking them. Traditionally performed by men, more women have begun performing Dhunuchi Naach in recent years.

Here’s a video of a Dhunuchi performance by a young girl, Sneha Ghosh.

At the Council of Asuras

Mahishasura called a meeting of ministers and senior Asuras to take advice. He sought counsel about the plausible ways to counter the warrior woman who had challenged him openly. His minister Virupaksha was the first one to speak.

“You, my Lord, have received the boon of invincibility from Brahma. Why do you worry? That woman has challenged you in arrogance. Ordered by you, we could not take any action against her. Command me now; I will fight with this arrogant woman, bind her limbs and fling her at your feet. We will teach her a lesson in humility. Then, my Lord, you may decide what to do with her.”

Next to offer advice was Dhurdhara. “My friend, Virupaksha is right. However, my dear king, I read her arrogance a bit differently. She chooses to be haughty and obdurate to evoke lust in you. It’s a clever ploy. She camouflages her affection by using vitriolic language against you. Strange are the ways of women. They always mean the opposite of what they say and do.”

“And what does she mean then, Dhurdhara? What does she want me to do?” Mahishasura was gob-smacked with Dhurdhara’s reading of the situation.

“On the surface, she might be talking about meeting you in a battle, my master. But it’s not the physical battlefield she is talking about. She wants to have you, my lord! It’s her affection speaking, don’t you see? If only you could read the hidden provocation and invitation in her words!”

Some ministers agreed with Dhurdhara’s clever interpretation. Then wise old Asura, Tamra, got up to speak. “I disagree with Dhurdhara, dear king. Think for a moment. She carries unusual ayudhas (weapons) in eighteen arms, rides a lion and challenges you in broad daylight. Does she look like an ordinary woman by any stretch of your imagination? Perhaps, she is whom she is claiming to be — a Devi sent by Gods and Devas to fight us. I have been having these visions and premonitions since last night. The omens in nature are foretelling that something untoward is about to happen. I hope we have sense and reason not to see this threat as a romantic proposal. Let’s prepare ourselves for war, for her intent is very clear. She has come to fight if we do not go to Patala.”

There was pin-drop silence in the room. Mahishasura paced around in deep thought. Then he addressed his ministers thus, “This is what you should do. Go with a legion. Begin by talking gently. Entice her with precious gems, ornaments and my boundless wealth. If persuasion fails and she gets violent, you may counter her attack. But make sure that you do not strike the first blow. Treat her with honour even if she gets defeated in a fight.

Tamra could see the dark clouds of danger overshadowing the Asura clan. His master was beyond reasoning. As instructed, he approached the Goddess with Mahishasura’s proposal. Yet again, Devi Durga rejected them disdainfully and remained steadfast in her warning.

“Remind that fool Mahishasura to leave with his clan at once or face me on the battlefield.” She let out a blood-curdling ululation that pierced terror through the Asura army. Not knowing what to do, they fled the battlefield.

The foremost Asura warriors reassembled for a meeting again. Events were not proceeding as per Mahishasura’s plan. “We know nothing about this woman, dear Asuras. Perhaps, she has been sent by Devas and Gods to destroy us. Her battle cries fill me with fear and excitement at the same time. Who knows what our fate is? Strong men decide their fate; weaklings depend on it. So, advise me. What should we do next?”

A minister named Vidalaka saw darkness ahead. He felt that the woman challenging them was a Devi who had been created to annihilate them. Therefore, he warned Mahishasura to tread with care.

Disputing the wisdom of Vidalaka, Durmukha and Vaskala encouraged everyone to a battle. They recalled how Asuras had vanquished Devas once. The Devi, no matter how powerful, could be defeated by the mighty Asura Army, they felt. A thunderous wave of approval rose in the Asura camp.

The Battle Begins

The first two warriors to confront Devi Durga were Vaskala and Durmukha. They roared, challenged, and tried to intimidate her with their lewd suggestions.

She merely laughed at their ignorance. When they launched an attack on her, she leapt like a lightning flash, dispelling the blanket of arrows with one swift swish of her Kaumodaki. The ground shuddered when their weapons collided. Vaskala ran to hit her with an iron club, but her trident pierced his chest and threw him down to the ground with a thud.

Then Durmukha charged at her with a massive legion of dreadful warriors. At once, her serene countenance was flushed with anger. Her eyes turned red; her lips quivered, as she gritted her teeth in annoyance. Guzzling down some Soma from the flagon, she let out a heart-piercing roar. As if prodded by her war cry, her vahana—the lion— charged into the army thicket. Earth shook wherever the bronzed beast landed thunderously. Durmukha attacked Devi with his glittering mace. She spun around, landing a swift blow of her axe on his neck. His mighty torso shuddered when his severed head fell by her feet. All that Asura warriors could see next were flashing blurs of her weapons annihilating anything that came her way. Severed heads rolled down like discarded balls. In no time, the battlefield became a cesspool of mangled bodies. The remaining soldiers fled for their lives.

Today’s bhajan invokes and reveres Goddess Kalika, another manifestation of Shakti. It’s sung by the celebrated vocalist Ashwini Bhide Despande belonging to the Jaipur music Gharana. Do check out other bhajans by Ms Ashwini Bhide. Her mellifluous voice transports a listener to a different realm.