Durga Puja: Mahalaya to Mahasdashami
Durga Puja is the main festival of Bengalis, which is celebrated all over the country with great zest and fervour. The festival is also rejoiced as Navratri and Dussehra in other parts of the country. Durga Puja continues for 5 days and each day is called by a different name.
Durga Puja is one of the most popular festivals of India, in which God is revered as a mother (or Maa). It is only in Hinduism that God has been given the same rank as that of a mother.
Mahalaya
To begin with, the day of Mahalaya marks the beginning of Devi Paksha and the end of the Pitri Paksha, the latter of which, is a period of mourning. Hindus consider Pitri Paksha to be inauspicious, because shradhh or death rites are performed during this period. It is a 16-day lunar period during which people remember and pay homage to their ancestors using food and water offerings.
Mahalaya is a date on the Hindu lunar calendar that stands at the cusp of change—a period of shraadh or homage offerings to ancestors changes over to the worship of the devi. One of the myths describe Mahalaya as the day that heralds the much awaited homecoming for Goddess Durga after she has saved the world from the ire of the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Mahalaya arrives announced by natural cues like the blossoming of the white kash flowers and the lengthening rays of the post-monsoon sun.
The iconography of Mahalaya is both religious and socio-cultural and over the years, has embedded itself into the life and culture of Bengal. From rituals to radio shows to the beginning of festive menus at speciality Bengali restaurants in Kolkata to the final artistic flourishes on community puja pandals, Mahalaya usually heralds in a period of festivities lasting over a week.
This being the year of the pandemic, things have changed. From unusual lunar occurrences to the challenge of executing a massive community festival during the times of social distancing, Mahalaya 2020 is different.
Mahalaya and the Kash Blossoms
The wild kash phool proliferates at this time of the year, breaking through fields of grass in their feathery white glory, ushering in the changing season and the autumnal festivities of Durga Puja. Captured by photographers, poets and most famously by Satyajit Ray in his film Pather Panchali, the kash flower is little more than a wild grass and yet, this humble bloom is the one most commonly associated with a goddess who personifies shakti in all its forms.
Mahalaya and the voice from the radio
Dawn on Mahalaya would break with Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s voice pouring out of radio on Akashvani (meaning the Voice from the Sky) or the All India Radio broadcast. Playwright, actor and radio broadcaster Birendra Krishna Bhadra lent his voice and theatrical talent to this programme first aired in 1932. Believed to be one the earliest radio programmes in India, this went on to become a phenomenon with such cultural resonance that not even Bengal’s favourite superstar, Uttam Kumar could topple its fame on a televised version of the show.
Various television dance dramas went on to capture the same story with popular film stars of the day enacting the goddess and her battle with the demon Mahishasura and the victory of good over evil, yet none had the same hold over the imagination as the radio show.
The popularity of the telecast led to live performances of the same till 1966 after which it was recorded. Controversies raged with upper caste Hindus accusing Bhadra, a non-Brahmin, of reciting lines from the religious text, the Chandi Path and all of it was laid to bed with the overwhelming fan following that he garnered.
Eighty eight years later, Birendra Krishna Bhadra continues to be aired on radio every Mahalaya at 4 am. The session has been recorded on cassettes, CDs and vinyl records and there are versions on YouTube and other music streaming platforms.
Whatever be the medium, every Mahalaya for two hours, Bengalis across the country and beyond tune in to feel connected with the motherland and its grandest festival- Durga Puja through Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s soul-wrenching voice.
Mahalaya and the tale of two new moons
Normally, Mahalaya follows the Pitru Paksha or the period devoted to offerings to one’s ancestors and precedes Navami by a day and Durga Puja by 6 days with celebrations for the latter beginning on shashti. However, 2020 is not a regular year and this year, there is a gap of more than a month between the two dates.
Astrologers and makers of religious almanacs often diverge on specifics, but in this case, they concur that this year marks the occurrence of a phenomenon known as the mala mash or an inauspicious month bookended by two amavasyas or new moons.
What this means is that no pujas or festivities can happen in the interim and so, Durga Puja 2020 falls on 22 October. The last recorded instance of such a Mahalaya was in 2001.
Mahalaya and the pandemic!
This year, Mahalaya will begin the complex process of planning community Durga Pujas during a pandemic. While open-air pandals, limited access and proper ventilation are being considered as much as artistic merit, there is a sense of hope and resilience that the show must go on and the spirit of the festival must reign beyond the pandemic. Puja Pandals across Kolkata are coming up with ways to represent the virus through their art and the results are likely to be interesting.
As per Bengali calendar, the mala maas this time is in the Ashvin month and Durga Puja will begin only after it ends as auspicious occasions or rituals are not observed during this time period.
It is believed that goddess Durga arrives on earth on the day of Mahalaya. The 5-day Durga Puja festivity, widely celebrated across the globe, is a major festival of Bengalis.
Durga Puja 2020 calendar: Day-wise chart
October 21, Day 1 - Panchami, Kartik 04, 1427, Bilva Nimantran, Kalparambha, Akal Bodhon, Amantran and Adhivas
October 22, Day 2 - Shashthi, Kartik 05, 1427, Navpatrika Puja, Kolabou Puja
October 23, Day 3 - Saptami, Kartik 06, 1427
October 24, Day 4 - Ashtami, Kartik 07, 1427, Durga Ashtami, Kumari Puja, Sandhi Puja, Maha Navami
October 25, Day 5 - Nabami, Kartik 08, 1427, Bengal Maha Navami, Durga Balidan, Navami Homa, Vijayadashami
October 26, Day 6 - Dashami, Kartik 09, 1427, Durga Visarjan, Bengal Vijayadashami, Sindoor Utsav
Significance of all the 5 days of Durga Puja
Maha Shashti
On this day, Maa Durga is worshipped who rides on a lion and descends on the earth and her 4 children Saraswati, Laxmi, Ganesha and Kartikeya also accompany her. On Shashti, Maa Durga's face is disclosed, and prior to the main puja, some special rituals such as Amontron, Bodhon and Adibash are executed. The melodies of Dhaak (a kind of drum) with jolly mood marks the arrival of Maa Durga everywhere.
Maha Saptami
Maha Saptami is the day when the Maha Puja starts. On this very day, just before the crack of dawn, a banana tree is immersed in sacred water and thereafter it is adorned with a sari just like a newly married bride, this is popularly known as 'Kola Bou' or 'Nabapatrika'. The Kola Bou is then carried to the stage and is placed next to the idol of Ganesha where all the priests worship Maa Durga for good luck. Moreover, 9 plants are also venerated which represent the 9 forms of Goddess Durga.
Maha Ashtami
As per the legends, Maha Ashtami is the day when Maa Durga slew the buffalo devil 'The Mahishasura'. In the olden times, a buffalo was surrendered in order to mark the conclusion of wickedness. People present their prayers to Maa Durga in the form of 'Anjali', which are hymns in Sanskrit language.
On this very day, 'Kumari Puja' is also performed. In Kumari Puja, a girl whose age is nine years or less is bedecked as Maa Durga. Thereafter, this girl is worshiped with a lot of devotion and showy display. Sandhi Puja is performed in the evening, which is the combination of Maha Ashtami as well as the Maha Navami.
Maha Navami
As soon as the Sandhi Puja concludes, Maha Navami begins and is completed by the execution of 'Maha Arati'. A myriad of recreational activities are organised by various Durga Puja Committees, after which the Navami Bhog is served.
Maha Dashami
The last day of Durga Puja is the 'Maha Dashami'. On this day, the idol of Maa Durga is immersed in the sacred river of Ganga. This act is called 'The Visarjan of Devi Durga'. On the day of Visarjan, the goddess is carried with splendid processions on the roads. People sing and dance while moving with the procession. All married women throw vermilion on each other; this is popularly known as 'The Sindoor Khela'.
After the submersion of Maa Durga everybody comes back to their abodes and in the evening, they go to their friends and relatives houses to wish 'Bijoya Dashami' to each other. To celebrate this occasion, a variety of sweets and other scrumptious dishes are prepared and relished.
And that marks the end of this grand festival!
Not only does this annual event hold a religious and spiritual significance, it also reminds us of the power of truth, of courage and of the universal fact that in the end, good will always triumph over evil.
