Durga Puja and Feminism: How the Goddess Inspires Women’s Battles Today

Every autumn, Bengal lights up in a dazzling spectacle of sound, color, and devotion. The clay idols of Goddess Durga, with ten hands holding weapons, riding a lion, and striking down the buffalo demon Mahishasura, dominate streets, pandals, and minds alike. But if you pause amidst the beats of the dhaak and the fragrance of shiuli flowers, you realize Durga Puja is not just about rituals — it’s about resistance, reclamation, and resilience. It’s about a woman who stands as a warrior in a world of gods and demons, and by extension, every woman who stands tall against patriarchy and injustice.
Durga is not just a goddess we worship for five days; she is an idea, a metaphor, a reminder that power wears no gender. And that’s where feminism and Durga Puja meet - in the shared belief that women are not merely divine in their nurturing roles but also fierce when they resist oppression.
The mythology of Durga is, at its heart, a tale of defiance. The gods, despite all their weapons and wisdom, were powerless against Mahishasura. It was only when they united their energies to create a woman — Durga — that victory became possible. This itself is radical: the divine feminine, born from masculine energies, proved superior to the very gods who birthed her.
Her ten arms signify multiplicity — the multitasking resilience that countless women embody in real life. Her mount, the lion, represents courage, not submission. Her victory is not just over a demon but over an entire idea: that power belongs to men alone.
In many ways, the story of Durga challenges the notion of women as “passive nurturers.” She is Shakti — raw, untamed, and unapologetic. Isn’t this the very language of feminism today?
Feminism, at its simplest, demands equality, respect, and freedom of choice. When seen through that lens, Durga Puja becomes a living metaphor for feminist values:

• Equality of Power: Durga does what no god could do. She proves that strength is not gendered.
• Resistance to Injustice: Her slaying of Mahishasura is symbolic of every woman’s fight against harassment, discrimination, or violence.
• Celebration of Identity: Durga is celebrated not for being someone’s wife or mother but for who she is — powerful in her own right.

It’s no surprise that across India, women often invoke Durga during protests, marches, and campaigns. Her imagery adorns placards, graffiti, and art installations in movements from Nirbhaya protests in Delhi to Shaheen Bagh demonstrations. The goddess has become a feminist icon — not because we turned her into one, but because she has always been one.
The beauty of mythology lies in how it mirrors real life. For millions of women, Mahishasura is not a mythological demon; it is patriarchy at home, glass ceilings at work, or unequal paychecks. The idea of Durga gives women a language to fight back.

• In rural Bengal, women who lead self-help groups often describe their collective strength as “Durga Shakti.”
• In corporate India, women breaking boardroom barriers are often compared to “Durga with ten arms.”
• In homes, mothers balancing work, children, and personal lives resonate with Durga’s multitasking image.

This merging of myth and lived reality creates a powerful narrative: that worship should not stop at the idol; it must continue in society, in how we respect and empower women.
Here lies the paradox. While the festival celebrates a powerful goddess, the lived realities of women are still often marked by inequality. Pandals are filled with men playing dhaak and priests leading rituals, while women are mostly in the roles of cooks, decorators, or devotees.
But winds are shifting. In 2017, for the first time, a group of women priests performed Durga Puja in Kolkata, breaking centuries-old traditions. Female dhakis (drummers) are now emerging, challenging the male monopoly of the instrument. Young girls take part in idol-making, once a male-dominated craft.
Durga Puja thus becomes not just a festival but also a stage where gender roles are being renegotiated, one drumbeat at a time.
From mythology to modern streets, Durga’s imagery has traveled widely. In India’s feminist movements, she has become both shield and sword:

• The Nirbhaya Movement (2012): Protest posters often depicted Durga slaying Mahishasura, symbolizing women fighting predators.
• Shaheen Bagh (2019-20): Art installations showed Durga as a mother, fighter, and protector.
• #MeToo India: Digital artists reimagined Durga as the voice of survivors, holding the weapon of truth.

This blending of the sacred with the secular is powerful. It says: you can’t confine Durga to a pandal; she walks the streets wherever injustice thrives.
Of course, not everyone agrees with equating Durga with feminism. Critics argue that using religion for political or social movements can dilute its sanctity. Others point out that deifying women as “goddesses” often ignores their everyday struggles as human beings.
But perhaps, therein lies the challenge: how to bridge the gap between worshipping women in temples and respecting them in society? Isn’t that, in essence, the unfinished task of feminism in India?
In 2025, as debates rage on women’s safety, rights, and representation, Durga’s symbolism feels more urgent than ever. She reminds us that strength is not a borrowed attribute but an innate one. She reminds men that true masculinity is not in dominance but in coexistence. She reminds women that their struggles are not isolated but part of a larger history of resistance.
Durga Puja, then, is not just a cultural extravaganza. It’s a mirror — reflecting both how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go in the fight for gender justice.
When the idol is immersed on Vijaya Dashami, devotees chant “Asche bochor abar hobe” (it will happen again next year). But perhaps the real message is this: Durga does not disappear into the river; she remains in every woman who dares to speak up, in every girl who dreams beyond boundaries, in every community that fights for equality.
Durga Puja and feminism are not separate stories. They are chapters of the same book — one written in myth, the other in modern lives. Both tell us that the battle against Mahishasura — in whatever form he takes — is never truly over. But as long as there is Shakti, as long as there is resilience, the victory of good over evil, of equality over oppression, will continue to be celebrated.
Durga lives on — not only in clay but in courage.

Unlock insightful tips and inspiration on personal growth, productivity, and well-being. Stay motivated and updated with the latest at My Life XP.