Sept 19, 2017: Autumn is the season of the year that sees the Hindus, all geared up to celebrate some of the biggest festivals of India. The festive spirit in the Bengalis all enthused to prepare for the greatest of the festivals, the 'Durga Puja'.
Mahalaya is the auspicious occasion that marks the beginning of "Devipaksha" and the ending of "Pitripaksha," and this year it is celebrated on September 19.
Observed exactly a week before the 'Durga Puja', Mahalaya is the harbinger of the arrival of Goddess Durga. It is celebrated to invoke the goddess possessing supreme power! The goddess is invited to descend on earth and she is welcomed with devotional songs and holy chants of mantras. On this day, the eye is drawn in the idols of the Goddess by the artisans marking the initiation of "Devipaksha". Mahalaya arrives and the countdown to the Durga Puja begins!
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The day of Mahalaya bears supreme significance to the Bengalis. The day is immensely important because on this day people throng to the holy river Ganges in order to pay homage to their ancestors and forefathers. Clad in white dhotis, people offer prayers and take dips in the river while praying for their demised dear ones. The ritual is popular as "Torpon".
An idol-maker in progress of drawing the eye in the idol of the Goddess. Wikipedia
As per Hindu myth, on "Devipaksha", the Gods and the Goddesses began their preparations to celebrate "Mahamaya" or Goddess Durga, who was brought upon by the trinity- Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara; to annihilate the fierce demon king named Mahishasura. The captivating story of the Goddess defeating the demon got popularized with the goddess being revered as "Durgatinashini" or the one who banishes all the evils and miseries of the world. The victory of the Goddess is celebrated as 'Durga Puja'.
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Mahalaya remains incomplete without the magical chanting of the scriptural verses from the 'Chandi Kavya' that is broadcasted at dawn in All India Radio in the form of a marvelous audio montage enthralling the souls of the Bengalis. Presented with wonderful devotional music, acoustic drama, and classical songs- the program is also translated to Hindi and played for the whole pan-Indian listeners.
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Birendra Krishna Bhadra (1905-1991). Wikipedia
The program is inseparable from Mahalaya and has been going on for over six decades till date. The magic is induced by the popular Birendra Krishna Bhadra whose voice makes the recitation of the "Chandi Kavya" even more magnificent! He has been a legend and the dawn of Mahalaya turns insipid without the reverberating and enchanting voice of the legendary man.
Mahalaya will keep spreading the magic and setting the vigor of the greatest festival of the Bengalis- the Durga Puja, to worship the supreme Goddess, eternally.
"Yaa Devi Sarbabhuteshu, Shakti Rupena Sanhsthita,
Namastaswai Namastaswai Namastaswai Namo Namaha."
– by Antara Kumar of NewsGram. Twitter: @ElaanaC