Mahalaya and Pujo Days

It is this time of the year when every Bengali waits for the Durga Pujo to come. This is an annual waiting but enthusiasm is never lost. The actual spirit of the Pujo starts on the day of the Mahalaya.

With Mahalaya the distant dream of the Pujo days are over and it is only seven days waiting for Mother Goddess to sit in the pandals with all her grandeur inviting flocks of human soul to come close to her with Bhakti and Devotion.

Even today Birendra Kishna Bhadra is remembered on Mahalaya day. I still remember as a child the early morning hours of the Mahalaya day used to be so very special. Everyone in the house woke up at 4a.m., the radio was tuned in and the voice of this legendary narrator was heard reciting holy verses which told the story of the decent of Ma Durga to earth. His inimitable style and voice can still be heard in the recorded version, the mesmerizing effect on all those who spend the early morning hours listening to the radio and the story of Mahisasur- Mardini.

On this special Mahalaya day many people take a holy dip in the Ganges and offer Tarpan, a way of remembering the forefathers who have left for their heavenly abode. People fast and offer food, water, sweets, clothes which is a ritual of Tarpan. This day can also be symbolized as the Remembrance Day (remembering ancestors).

It is believed that on Mahalaya day Goddess Durga along with her four children begins her journey from Mount Kailash in the Himalayas to her parental home.

And so begins the joy of the long awaited Pujo days.

Durga Puja

Festive time has crept in and it is very much noticeable from the sudden change in weather. Days and nights are no longer hot and sweaty; instead the early morning hours have a touch of the chill. This clearly states that the major festivals of our country are knocking at the door.

Durga Puja is one of the major festivals celebrated throughout India and the main festival of the Bengalis. Goddess Durga symbolises power and triumph of good over evil. The Puja ambience has set in with people making preparations for the celebration. Puja Pandals are being set up and decorations are on to make each and every pandal get the best look. On the other hand the artists are busy shaping up the idols and giving the finishing touch.

The festivity time can be read in the market place for this time is more like an annual buying spree. Markets also depend on their maximum sale during these times.

As the five days of the Pujas come to an end, the idols, made of clay will be immersed in the waters of the rivers. Again Ma Durga will make her appearance next year when the Puja time comes.