During Durga Puja four deities – Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati and Lord Kartikeya – are worshipped along with Goddess Durga in the Pooja Pandal or Puja area. The popular belief is that Ganesh, Laxmi, Saraswati and Kartik are children of Goddess Parvati or Goddess Durga. It is believed that Goddess Parvati comes to the home of her father Himavat along with her children. This legend is found in the folk songs sung during Durga Puja.
In the Puja area, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are placed to the right of Goddess Durga idol. Goddess Saraswati and Lord Kartikeya are placed to the left of Durga idol.
Goddess Lakshmi is portrayed as standing on a lotus.
Goddess Saraswati is depicted as standing on a lotus and holding a Veena.
Lord Ganesha is shown in sitting posture.
Lord Kartikeya is shown mounted on a peacock.
Lord Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is also known Muruga and Subrahmanya.
Other deities that are shown in the Durga Puja Pandal are Lord Shiva mounted on his bull and Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman.
Lord Shiva mounted on bull is placed on right nook of the Puja area.
Lord Ram and Hanuman is placed on the left nook of the Puja area.
It must be noted that there are scholars who are of the opinion that during Durga Puja only Goddess Durga is worshipped and the other deities are later additions and have no scriptural sanction.
But the above said deities are depicted in most pandals during Durga Puja.