Maharaja Suratha - First Durga Puja of World by the King of Vanga

History of Basonti Durga Puja - first ever Durga Puja of World by the king of Vanga, Maharaja Suratha Deva


Baṅgādhipati Chaitravamśakulatilaka Mahārājādhirāja Suratha Dēva, famous as Raja Suratha was a Chaitravanshi Emperor of the ancient Vanga Kingdom, historical Bengal Region who first started the Bāsontī/ Vāsantī Durga Puja in Garh Janghal. 

The Chaitra dynasty draws lineage from the eighth Manu, hence a section of Lunar Dynasty. So, they are a class of Gaudiya Kshatriya-Kāyasthas originating from Raja Suratha, who ruled over Swapur, Bengal. His capital was in Bolipura, now Bolpur city of West Bengal. 


According to the Markandeya Purana he preached the Devi Mahatmya (Sri Sri Chandi) in Marthya (earth) among the dweller of Marthya and also he was the first organizer of Durga Puja in Ganga and later this Durga Puja festival became popular in other parts of India.

The 12th and 15th lines of the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana calls,

"তত: স্বপুরমায়াতো নিজেদেশাধিপোহভবৎ/
तत: स्वपुरमायातो निजेदेशाधिपोहभवत"

The word "Swapura" refers to "Supur". Raja Surath was the king of "Swapur"(স্বপুর) in present-day "Supur", Bolpur of West Bengal.

The Ashrama of Maharshi Medhasa in Durgapur, Paschim Bardhaman, Bengal

The king Raja Suratha and a wealthy Bengali merchant Samadhi Vaishya worshipped Devi Durga as Durga Puja or Durgotsav|দুর্গোৎসব at the Ashram of Medhas Muni in the Garh Jungle of Bengal that's the first mentioned Durgapuja of world. In current days, the Garh Jungle is in Durgapur, Purba Bardhaman, WB. 


They worshipped Devi Durga in the season of Spring. So, this festival is called Basanti Puja (বাসন্তী পূজা) or "Basanto Kalin Durgotsob" (বসন্তকালীন দুর্গোৎসব). According to Sri Sri Chandi, they made this Durga image clay in the Garh jungle. After puja Raja Surath returnback all his lost property and he came back to his capital Bolipur (now Bolpur). 

Raja Surath enrooted Durgapuja in his capital Bolipur (বলিপুর/बलिपुर) in spring. During this puja, he sacrificed (Bali, sacrifice in Bengali is "boli") lakhs of animal. From this Bengali term "boli"(animal sacrifice), this place called as "Bolipur"(currently Bolpur).

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