A Reporter’s Religious Quest in Houston Suburbia

In Hindu folklore, the goddess Durga appears with her dark eyes serene, wearing a billowing scarlet sari, and riding atop a lion as she battles the half-beast, half-human demon Mahishasura, who seeks world dominance. For nine long days and nights, Durga manifests in different forms, her power growing with each, to prevail where male gods had failed. Each of her 10 arms wields weapons, among them a discus from Vishnu, a sword from Ganesha, and a trident from Shiva, the last of which she uses to annihilate the demon on the 10th and final day. Thanks to Durga, evil is extinguished. Good is restored. People can rejoice.

I first read about Durga before I attended a celebration of her victory called Navaratri, or “nine nights” of puja [worship], bhajans [devotional songs], and dancing in a Hindu temple near my home. Starting alongside an autumnal new moon, these celebrations to honor Durga and other goddesses—de...