According to Hindu mythology, all gods and goddesses of thee Hindu pantheon endowed Durga with a portion of their own energy to give her strength, or shakti, to destroy the evil forces. Some 2,000 pandals are erected throughout the city. The image of Durga shows her slaying the most powerful demon, Mahisasur. This is the season fo gifts. New clothes are purchased.
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People take to the streets to visit the thousands of puja pandals which spring virtually at every street corner. The puja climaxes on Mahadashami, the 10th day when the image is carried in decorated carts or trucks in festive processions to be immersed in river Hooghly. Northern Indian communities celebrated the festival of Dussehra on that day commemorating Rama's victory over the devil Ravana, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. At sunset, huge effigies of Ravana, his son and his brother are burned on the maidan. Public Pujas are performed in the same permises as for Durga Puja.