For Bengalis, Mahalaya is not just the prelude to 10-day-long festival but a day of Maa Durga's homecoming

The Bengali calendar is full of festivals. There’s a reason why the proverb ‘baro mashe tero parbon’ (13 festivals in 12 months) exist. However, Durga Puja remains the most important among all Bengali festivals.

This festival which is celebrated for 10 days in the month of Ashwina (September and October) still reigns supreme in the heart of every Bengali whether they be a native Kolkatan or a probashi (diaspora). Officially, it kicks off with Mahalaya, which is usually a week before the Puja begins.

For Bengalis, Mahalaya is not just a word, it is a cherished tradition, and oodles of nostalgia. In most Bengali households, it means waking up at the crack of dawn, drowsy and sleepy-eyed, to tune in to the sonorous voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra narrating the triumph of Goddess Durga over the mayhem causing demon Mahishasura, through the ‘Mahishasura Mardini’ (Annihilation of the demon) programme broadcasted on All India Radio (AIR).

His tireless recounting of Maa Durga’s birth, and the epic showdown between her and Mahishasura in that authoritative yet magnetic voice remains one of the highlights of growing up in Bengali homes. .

Mahalaya Is Synonymous With Homecoming

The day of Mahalaya marks the beginning of Devi Paksha and the end of the Pitru Paksha, a 16-day period of mourning when Hindus pay homage to departed family members through water and food offerings.

The Mahalaya, though, is far from a sorrowful occasion. It is believed that this is the day when Goddess Durga or Parvati begins her descent from Mount Kailash where she resides with her husband Lord Shiva, to her paternal home on Earth. She is accompanied by her children Ganesha, Kartik, Lakshmi and Saraswati and rides on a luxurious vehicle like an elephant, horse, palanquin or a boat.

When Is Mahalaya Celebrated?

Mahalaya is celebrated roughly seven days before Durga Puja.

Decoding The Significance of Mahalaya

For Bengalis, Mahalaya symbolises not just the return of Goddess Durga to her paternal home on earth but the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga was created by Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Maheshwar to vanquish the powerful demon king Mahishasura whom the devatas (Gods) and human beings were unable to kill as he was blessed with immortality.

Thwarted after several attempts to defeat the demon, the three leaders of the heavenly realm prayed to Adi Shakti to protect them from the demon’s attacks. Hindus believe that a ray of light emanated from the three Devas and manifested into Maa Durga.

There was a final battle between the goddess and the demon king that lasted for nine days and ended with his crushing defeat and death on the tenth day.

Mahalaya Celebrations

Even the most adamant sleepyhead becomes an early morning bird during this day. Every Bengali household wakes up at dawn to listen to a collection of songs and mantras known as ‘Mahishasura Mardini’ that recounts Maa Durga’s birth and eventual triumph over the demon king Mahishasura.

As described before, Mahalaya marks the last day of Pitru Paksha. This is also known as Sarva Pitra Amavasya. Some Hindu households offer the ritual of pitru tarpan during this day wherein they offer prayers + offerings (pind-daan) on the banks of the river Ganga for the departed ancestors.

It is believed that on the Mahalaya Amavasya morning the ancestors must be given a grand farewell, so that they bestow happiness on the living.

Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s Recitation of 'Mahishasura Mardini'

The transistor and radio have been replaced by iPhones, smartphones and ear pods but Bengali’s fascination with the original ‘Mahishasura Mardini’ programme continues to be as strong as ever.

Created by the All India Radio in 1931, this 90 minute programme was scripted by Baidyonath Bhattacharya or Bani Kumar, a composer-playwright long associated with the AIR. The music (comprising 20 devotional songs such as ‘Ya Chandi’, ‘Jago Tumi Jago’, ‘Jaya Jaya Japyajaye’ etc ) was composed by singer-composer Pankaj Kumar Mullick.

The programme also includes Durga invocation verses ‘Aigiri Nandini’, the brainchild of Indian Vedic scholar Adi Shankaracharya who flourished in the 8th century CE.

The star attraction of the programme, however, continues to be Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s riveting recitation of the ‘Chandipath’- the Sanskrit Verses eulogising Goddess Durga in chapter 5 of the text Devi Mahatmyam (thought to have been composed between the 4th and 6th centuries CE).

Through these texts, Maa Durga emerges as a powerful, fierce deity. She is also described as abiding within all sentient beings in the form of instincts such as hunger, courage, morality, peace etc. in verses like ‘Ya devi sarvabhuteshu’.

Born in 1905, Birendra Krishna Bhadra was a popular playwright, actor and lawyer. He debuted as the narrator of Mahishasur Mardini on October 21, 1937. In the initial phase the rendition was a live programme.

The songs were sung by the leading musical artists of that era such as Pratima Banerjee, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, Arati Mukhopadhyay, Utpala Sen, Pankaj Mallick, Shipra Sen etc. The rendition was recorded in 1966 by the same set of artists. This version is what we are all familiar with.

Mahalaya 2022 Date & Shubh Muhurat

Mahalaya 2022 will take place on September 25 this year. The Brahma Muhurat begins from 4:35 AM and lasts till 5:23 AM whereas the Abhijit Muhurat starts from 11:48 AM and ends at 12:37 PM. The Godhuli muhurat commences from 6:02 PM and ends at 6:26 PM and the timings for Vijaya Muhurat will start from 2:13 PM and end on 3:01 PM.