The book is an introduction to Durga Puja, the grandest festival ineastern India, a celebration that provides a glimpse into the richcultural heritage of Bengal. It is also a ready reckoner of all aspectsof the Puja-its mythical origins, its socio-cultural evolution, itseconomic ramifications and its elaborate rituals. Spiced up withanecdotes and trivia collected from journals and newspapers from the19th century to the present day, it is a compendiumof knowledge associated with the worship of theMother Goddess, one of the oldest surviving Hindutraditions.