During a nine-day period every autumn, Hindus in India and throughout the world worship the Great Goddess, Durgaµ-the formidable deity who is loved like a mother. One of the most dramatic and popular of these celebrations is the Durgaµ Puµjaµ, a rite noted for its visual pageantry, ritual complexity, and communal participation. In this book, Hillary Peter Rodrigues describes the Bengali style of Durgaµ Puµjaµ practiced in the sacred city of Banaras from beginning to end. A romanization of the Sanskrit litany is included along with an English translation. In addition to the liturgical