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দশ হাত · দশ উদ্যোগ Ten hands · ten initiatives

The Ten Divine Hands

Maa Durga, দশপ্রহরণধারিণী, holds a different weapon in each of her ten hands. Each is a different strength. Our ten hands are ten areas of work, and each one is a way for women to lead change in society.

নারীর শক্তি দশ দিকে সমাজের উন্নতিতেWomen's strength, in ten directions, for society's progress

I need helpTell us what you need. We will help you find the right hand or official service. In an emergency, call 112. I want to helpJoin as a specialist, social worker, activist, volunteer or member. I represent a school or groupInvite us for a session, or partner with us on a programme.

How each hand works

1Listen to the neighbourhood and find a real need.
2Plan with qualified people and local authorities where needed.
3Start small with sessions or drives, then grow as volunteers join.

Explore each hand

শিক্ষা ও জাগরণ Education & Awareness নারীর অধিকার, সচেতনতা এবং সম্ভাবনার বিকাশ
Women's rights, awareness and the growth of every woman's potential For: Women of every age, including those who left school early. Explore this hand পরিবেশ সচেতনতা Environmental Awareness সবুজ পৃথিবী সবার জন্য
A green earth for everyone For: Households, housing societies, schools, and children together with an adult. Explore this hand স্বাস্থ্য ও সুস্থতা Health & Wellbeing শারীরিক, মানসিক ও প্রজনন স্বাস্থ্য নিয়ে সহায়তা
Support for physical, mental and reproductive health For: Girls, young women, mothers and older women: every stage of life. Explore this hand ছাত্রছাত্রীদের কেরিয়ার গাইডেন্স Career Guidance for Students স্কুল সংযোগ, কেরিয়ার গাইডেন্স ও মেন্টরশিপ
School connect, career guidance and mentorship For: Students from Class 9 to 12 and their parents, and college students too. Explore this hand সমাজসেবা ও কমিউনিটি উদ্যোগ Social Service & Community Initiatives সমাজের সমস্যা নারীর নেতৃত্বে সমাধানের পথ
Women leading the way to solve society's problems For: Neighbours in need, elderly people living alone, and families going through a hard time. Explore this hand নারী কর্মসংস্থান ও জীবিকা সহায়তা Women's Employment & Livelihood দক্ষতা উন্নয়ন, উদ্যোক্তা তৈরি ও আর্থিক স্বাধীনতা
Skills, entrepreneurship and financial independence For: Homemakers, women returning to work, and young women aged 18 and above. Explore this hand নেতৃত্ব বিকাশ Leadership Development পরিবার, সমাজ ও কর্মক্ষেত্রে নারীর নেতৃত্ব
Women leading in the family, in society and at work For: Homemakers, young women, working women and members of self-help groups. Explore this hand সামাজিক সচেতনতা Social Awareness স্কুল, কলেজ ও সম্প্রদায়ের সঙ্গে সহযোগিতা
Working with schools, colleges and communities For: School students, college students and neighbourhood groups. Explore this hand উদ্ভাবন ও নতুন ভাবনা Innovation & New Thinking নতুন ধারণা, সমাধান ও পরিবর্তনের উদ্যোগ
New ideas, solutions and initiatives for change For: Any woman with an idea: any age, no qualification needed. Explore this hand নারী সংগঠন ও সহযোগিতা Women's Organisation & Cooperation একসাথে এগিয়ে শক্তিশালী সমাজ গড়ে তোলা
Moving forward together to build a strong society For: Every woman in Kolkata who wants to be part of a caring network. Explore this hand

Questions people ask

Frequently asked questions

Why does Durga Mata have 10 hands?

Maa Durga's ten hands hold the weapons the gods gave her to defeat Mahishasura, so she can fight evil on every front at once. Many people also see her ten hands as the ten directions: her protection reaches everywhere. That is the idea behind our ten hands: women's strength, turned in ten directions, for the good of society.

Does Durga have 8 or 10 arms?

Both forms exist. In Bengal's Durga Puja she is almost always shown with ten arms, as Dashabhuja, "the ten-armed one". In some other traditions and temples she appears with eight arms, as Ashtabhuja. The number differs by region and form, but the meaning stays the same: many strengths working together.