BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.3.3//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:39@srijagannathchicago.org DTSTART:20261017T180000Z DTEND:20261017T220000Z DTSTAMP:20261003T221421Z URL:https://srijagannathchicago.org/events/durga-puja-maha-saptami/ SUMMARY:Durga Puja (Maha Saptami) DESCRIPTION:\n\n\n\n\n\n❀\; ॐ\; ❀\;\nଶୁଭ ଦୁର ୍ଗା ପୂଜା\nMaha SaptamiDurga Puja\nWelcoming Maa Durga home\, as Odisha has for centuries\, celebrated every year at Sri Jagannath Temp le\, Chicago\nSaturday\, October 17\, 2026  \;·\; \; 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYa Devi Sarvabhuteshu Shakti-rupena Samsth ita\nTo the Goddess who dwells in all beings as divine energy\, we bow aga in and again.\n◆\; ◆\; ◆\;\n\n\n\n\nSaturday\, October 17\n Puja Schedule\n6:00 PMArrival &\; Sankalpa\n6:30 PMMaha Saptami Durga P uja\n7:45 PMPushpanjali\n8:15 PMCommunity Bhajans\n9:15 PMAarti\, Bhog &am p\; Prasad\n* Schedule is tentative and subject to change. Final timings w ill be updated closer to the event.\n\n\n\n\nI\n\nWhat Is Maha Saptami?\nD urga Puja honors Maa Durga\, the ten-armed form of the Divine Mother and t he embodiment of Shakti. Maha Saptami\, the seventh day of the bright fort night of Ashwin\, is when the main worship begins: the Goddess is invoked into her murti\, and the days of puja\, prayer and festivity that follow l ead to her victory on Vijaya Dashami.\n\n\n\n\n\nII\n\nThe Story of Maa Du rga\nThe demon Mahishasura won a boon that no man or god could defeat him\ , and drove the gods from heaven. The gods joined their divine energies\, and from that light Maa Durga was born. Shiva gave her his trident\, Vishn u his discus\, Indra his thunderbolt. Riding her lion\, she fought Mahisha sura for nine days and destroyed him on the tenth: the triumph of good ove r evil.\n\n\n\n\n\nDurga Puja in Odisha\nA Festival of Silver\, Gold and D evotion\nAcross Odisha\, Durga Puja is one of the year’\;s grandest c elebrations. Cuttack is world famous for its Chandi Medha and Suna Medha\, the Goddess adorned in exquisite silver and gold filigree. Towns and vill ages fill with beautifully crafted mandaps\, the sound of the ghanta and c onch\, and families visiting puja after puja late into the night.\nIn Puri \, within the Jagannath temple itself\, Maa Bimala\, honored as a Shakti P eetha\, receives special worship during these days\, a reminder that Lord Jagannath and the Divine Mother are celebrated together.\n\n\n\n\nIII\n\nW hy Children Love Maa Durga\nTo children she is a heroine: ten arms\, a fea rless lion\, and a story where courage wins. And she never comes alone. Du rga Puja celebrates her homecoming with her children Ganesha\, Kartikeya\, Lakshmi and Saraswati. In Odisha\, the Puja chhuti school holidays mean n ew clothes\, festive food and days spent at the mandap\, memories that sta y for a lifetime.\n\n\n\n\n\n❀\; ❀\; ❀\;\nCelebrated Eve ry Year at Sri Jagannath Temple\, Chicago\nEvery year\, our temple family brings the spirit of Odisha’\;s Durga Puja to Chicago. Grandparents\, parents and children gather side by side for the Puja\, Pushpanjali and A arti\, bhog and prasad\, and bhajans sung together. Everyone in the commun ity is welcome.\n\nDurga Puja\nPushpanjali\nAarti\nBhog &\; Prasad\nBha jans\n\n📍\; Sri Jagannath Temple\, 2295 Church Rd\, Aurora\, IL 605 02\n\n\n\n\n🙏\; Book an Archana\nReserve an Archana or special puja for your family as part of this celebration.\nBook a Puja\nMake a Donatio n\n\n\n\n END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR