Mahalaya: Prelude to Durga Puja, when the stage is set for arrival of the Goddess
Every year, Indians eagerly await the arrival of Goddess Durga.
Her descent from her heavenly abode to earth is celebrated yearly as ‘Durgotsav’ in East India, and Navratri in the North.
A week before Durga Puja commences, devotees set the stage for the goddess's arrival and pay homage to their departed ancestors. This day is called Mahalaya. It is observed with fervor in states such as West Bengal, Odisha, Tripura, Assam, and Karnataka.
This year, the Mahalaya was observed on October 14.
Significance Of Mahalaya
The word ‘Mahalaya’ is a combination of two Sanskrit words ‘Maha’ and ‘Alaya’ which together mean, the ‘great abode of the goddess’. Hindus believe that it is on this day, that Goddess Durga leaves her home in Kailash (also the abode of her husband Lord Shiva) and descends on the mortal realm, which is her father’s home.
This story is derived from the ‘Devi Mahatmya’ chapter of the epic ‘Markandeya Purana’. It narrates the story of how Goddess Durga was created by the gods to defeat the demon king Mahishashura. The defeat of the demon king on the tenth day of the battle also signified the victory of good over evil.
How Is It Celebrated?
In West Bengal and Bangladesh, Mahalaya does not begin without listening to Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s enthralling rendition of ‘Mahishasura Mardini’ on the radio. This has been a tradition since the ‘30s.
As Mahalaya also marks the ending of Pitru Paksha, many people all around India pay a trip to the Ganges and perform a ritual called ‘Tarpan’ wherein water from the Ganges, flowers as well as prayers, are offered to the departed family members and ancestors.
