How Basanti Puja shaped today’s grand autumn celebrations

Before becoming an iconic autumn festival, Durga Puja was first celebrated in spring as Basanti Puja during Chaitra, welcoming Goddess Durga in the Vasant season. Rooted in the Markandeya Purana, the worship began with King Surath. Observed across Bengal, Tripura and Assam, its rituals closely resemble the grand autumn celebrations seen today.