Mahalaya
Sacred Prelude
Mahalaya marks the beginning of Durga Puja festivities.
It is observed on the last day of Pitru Paksha (a fortnight dedicated to ancestors).
On this day, Mahalaya Amavasya, people perform tarpan to honor departed souls.
It is believed that after Mahalaya, Devi Durga begins her journey to earth from Kailash.
The day symbolizes the end of mourning and the arrival of celebration.
The tradition became widely popular through radio broadcasts of Mahishasura Mardini.
This program, narrated by Birendra Krishna Bhadra, has become a cultural ritual in Bengal.
The broadcast narrates the mythological story of Goddess Durga’s creation.
It describes how the gods united their powers to create Durga to defeat Mahishasura.
Families wake up early at dawn to listen to the recitation.
Symbolically, it represents the victory of good over evil.
It is also associated with seasonal change, marking the end of monsoon and arrival of autumn.
For Bengalis, Mahalaya is not just a ritual but a cultural and emotional tradition.
It beautifully blends ancestral remembrance and divine invocation, bridging the past and the festive future.
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