Mahalaya – an auspicious occasion that heralds the advent of Goddess Durga – was celebrated on Wednesday (Oct 2) through different rituals by members of Hindu community across the country. Mahalaya marking the beginning of 'Devi Paksha' was celebrated in Bangladesh six days ahead of Durga Puja this year as per Hindu calendar, local media reported.
The countdown of Durga Puja began with the celebration of Mahalaya. Through Mahalaya celebration, Hindu devotees invite Goddess Durga from Kailash to her paternal home to earth, along with her children Laxmi, Saraswati, Ganesh and Kartik. This invitation was extended through the chanting of mantras from Sri Sri Chandi and singing of devotional songs at temples in the dawn.
Marking the day, special programmes of Mahalaya were arranged at different temples across the country. The Hindus remembered and paid homage to their late ancestors by performing puja, and offering the Brahmins clothes, food and sweets in their names. Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee leader Tapash Kumar Pal said programmes of the day at Dhakeswari temple began with puja, devotional songs and dance drama. Similar programmes were also arranged in different temples across the country.
Durga Puja will formally begin on Oct 9 with Maha Shasti. On Oct 13 it will come to an end with the immersion of the idols on the day of Bijoya Dashami.
The most popular rendition of Mahalaya is predawn playing of sonorous recorded voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra, whose collection of songs and mantras called Mahishasura Mardini. Social media has been abuzz with photos, videos and wishes shared by Hindu community members welcoming the advent of Goddess Durga. Members of different faiths also greeted their Hindu friends on the occasion on social media.
This year Goddess Durga will come on a palanquin and she will return by elephant. Arrival of the goddess in a palanquin is considered as the symbol of sickness and diseases while departure on Elephant signifies huge production of crops and food grains.
