Please note, that despite a reservation request sent well in advance, followed by repeated enquiries, York Hall were unable to allocate the 30th of September for Bijoya Dashami as they had already taken a booking from a sporting events organisation.
We have therefore taken the decision to perform Dashami Puja immediately after Maha Navami ends at 8pm on the 29th of September. We hope you will all be able to join us.
The story of Durga.
When heaven was conquered by the demon King Mahisharur, the Gods went to the three Great Gods; Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. They pleaded with them, "We have been dispossessed from heaven, from our home!" they said, "how can it be that heaven is filled with malevolent demons. How can such a place even be called heaven?"
On hearing this, the face of Lord Vishnu was flushed with anger and with a brilliant light, flooded forth. Soon, the faces of Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma glowed with the same dazzling luminescence. The gods watched in wonder as great flames radiated in all directions. The fires illuminated all the three worlds: the heaven, the earth and the nether-world with penetrating light.
At a single point, the energy of all the fires coalesced and became Shiva, in the form of a young woman. Her face was from the light of Shiva. Her ten arms were from Lord Vishnu. Her legs were from Lord Brahma. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva thus created Maa Durga.