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To the culturally rich state of West Bengal, Ma Durga is the daughter of the state, who comes to her parents’ home every year during autumn According to the popular Bengali belief, Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva was the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, a descendant of Brahma. Sati had married Shiva against the wishes of her father. Once, Daksha organised a yajna and invited all Gods and Goddesses except his son-in-law Shiva. Sati attended this yajna against her husband's wishes, and was insulted by her father. Unable to bear this insult, Sati immolated herself.
Enraged and devastated by his beloved wife’s loss, Shiva destroyed Daksha's yajna, cut off Daksha's head and when pleaded by other Gods, replaced it with the head of a goat and restored him to life. Then, filled with immense grief, he picked up the remains of Sati's body, and began his “Taandav” dance – the dance of destruction. The other Gods requested him to stop this dance, but Shiva continued. While Shiva was dancing, different pieces of Sati's corpse fell down at several spots all through the Indian subcontinent and formed the sites of what are known as Shakti Peethas today.
Shiva was finally pacified when the last piece of Sati’s body fell off his shoulder. Moved by Shiva’s grief, Narayana revived Sati as Uma for a new life. Ever since peace was restored, Uma, with her children, Ganesh and Kartikeya, and with her two 'sakhis' – Lakshmi and Saraswati, comes to visit her parents’ home each year during the season of 'Sharad' or autumn when Durga Puja is celebrated.
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