Durga embodies shakti in its most dynamic and protective form, celebrated especially during Navaratri. She emerged to defeat the buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of divine feminine power over arrogance and chaos. In poetry, from the Devi Mahatmya to modern feminist reinterpretations, Durga represents courage, justice, and maternal ferocity. Her ten arms holding divine weapons signify the convergence of all cosmic powers in one divine will. Poets invoke her in times of crisis or moral decay, using her image to inspire resistance against oppression and to affirm the sacredness of righteous action. Her presence in verse often conveys urgency, empowerment, and divine intervention.

Durga, “the inaccessible,” slays the buffalo demon Mahishasura, restoring cosmic balance. Her festival, Navaratri, celebrates feminine power through dance (Garba), fasting, and scripture recitation. Iconographically, her many arms hold divine weapons, symbolizing collective divine support. In poetry, she’s both protector and destroyer—Kazi Nazrul Islam’s “Bidrohi” invokes her rebellious energy. For scholars, Durga embodies shakti (power) as necessary force against adharma, inspiring literature that links spiritual and social resistance, especially in feminist and anti-colonial contexts.