Q:
A: Mahishasura the demon was difficult to vanquish. He would not allow peace and Havanas. So the Gods created Goddess Durga to kill him. When Mahishasura saw the goddess, he fell in love with her and sought to marry her. The goddess promised to marry him, if he defeated her in the battle. A terrible combat ensued and continued for nine days. Finally, Durga assumed the terrifying form of Chandika and pinned Mahishasura down with her foot and pierced his neck with her spear and she cut his head off with her sword. Another legend: In Bengal and in Eastern India, there is another myth too and that is Goddess Durga along with her children coming to the earth to visit her parents, who live on Earth. Dakha being her father. In Bengali myth Goddess Durga is Uma or Sati the consort of Lord Shiva. So this period is the real Durga Puja. The Kartik one is "Akale Bodhan" or untimely. So the Goddess is worshiped for 9 days. Known as Navaratri.