Durga Puja 2025: Story behind painting Maa Durgas eyes in Chokkhu Daan
As Durga Puja 2025 approaches, the sacred ritual of Chokkhu Daan takes center stage. This age-old tradition of painting Maa Durga's eyes on Mahalaya is not just art, but the moment her soul enters the idol. Here's why this divine ritual holds unmatched cultural and spiritual significance.
New Delhi: The storm of Durga Puja 2025 has already started to take over the country. Streets are being decorated, pandals are being constructed, and idols of Maa Durga are being made. Durga Maa idols, which are the main attraction of the pandals, are the result of the hard work of three to four months by artisans. Craftspersons put in all their dedication and commitment in preparing the idols, and the results are always mesmerising.
One interesting fact of the idol-making process is that the eyes of Maa Durga are not painted until Mahalaya, almost nine days before Durga Puja begins. Chokkhu Daan, a sacred ritual of painting the eyes of Maa Durga idols, holds special spiritual significance.
What is ‘Chokkhu Daan’?
Chokkhu Daan translates to ‘offering eyes’ to Maa Durga. A senior artisan, on the day of Mahalaya, draws the eyes of the Durga idol’s formation. It is believed that painting eyes is the last step in completing the divine Maa Durga’s idol and giving it life.
Almost two centuries ago, on Mahasaptami, the seventh day of Navratri or Durga Puja celebrations, a ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ritual was performed. The ceremony marked the entry of the goddess Durga into the clay murtis, turning the lifeless structures into a living goddess. During this ritual, the ‘Chokkhu Daan’ or ‘eye-giving’ ceremony was done. But now, it is performed on Mahalaya, a week before Mahasaptami, marking the arrival of Maa Durga on earth.
How is Chokkhu Daan ritual carried out?
The painting of the eyes is done in a specific sequence as per cultural significance. First, the third eye or Trinayana, then the left eye, followed by the right eye. During this, the artisan is requested to chant the ‘beej mantra’ 108 times in Lelihan Mudra in the presence of a priest in a covered enclosure.
Moreover, the artisan drawing the eyes of Maa Durga does not use an ordinary painting brush. Instead, the eyes are painted with sacred kajal made by burning a Bel leaf coated with ghee. Then, with the help of a broader Bel leaf, the kajal is used to make the eyes.
In some parts of West Bengal and Assam, the eyes are made with Kush, a grass considered highly sacred in Hinduism. Kush is also used in other religious rituals, including yajnas (fire sacrifices), pujas, and purification rites.
Once the eyes are painted, the idol is first worshipped as Mrinmayi (the earthen form), and then, when the soul of Maa Durga enters the idol, it is worshipped as ‘Chinmayi’ (the spiritual form) through rituals.
Over time, this sacred ritual of Chokkhu Daan has lost its importance. Due to the increasing concept of community Durga pujas known as ‘Barwari Pujas’, where artisans need to paint the eyes of the idols before Mahalaya to meet the demand for Maa Durga idols. Nevertheless, Chokkhu Daan is still observed in many rural areas. Chokkhu Daan is the official announcement to the people of the arrival of the divine goddess to the mortal plane and the beginning of Durga Puja celebrations.