Jagran

Jagran is a word that will be quite familiar to the Hindus worldover. Its an all night worship of Mother Goddess who rides the Lion (Maa Durga), where Her devotees worship Her all night by singing Her praises and Her prayers, normally lead by a single person along with some supporters who acts as a lead in the singing of prayers.

Usually this holy event is organised by a person or a family who bears all the cost of the holy event, but sometimes people organise a "jagran" by collecting charities to pay for the holy event.

This is a holy event that can be held any time of the year. The jagran ends with the lead singer (usually a priest) telling the story of "Taramati" and her devotion to the Mother Goddess. Then the person/family who organised the "Jagran" gives the final offering("antim-ardaas") to the Mother Goddess, and the rest of the devotees follow after that person/family.

Then everyone is given the prasad of halwa & cooked(salted) gram. Usually its recommended to have the halwa made in pure ghee but because of the rising cost of it, its dependent on the financial status/wish of the person/family/group organising the jagran.