Maa Durga is traditionally shown riding a lion, but during Durga Puja, an interesting Bengali tradition speaks of a different journey. According to this belief, when the Goddess comes to Earth for the festival, her vahan, or vehicle, changes from year to year. Elephant, horse, boat and palanquin are traditionally associated with her arrival and departure, and each is believed to carry a symbolic message about the year ahead. In 2026, Maa Durga is traditionally said to arrive on an elephant and depart on a horse, making this year’s Durga Vahan especially interesting for devotees.
