Mahalaya: The Divine Prelude to Durga Puja

For Bengalis, Mahalaya is not merely a date—it is a sacred dawn, the moment when faith, tradition, and devotion unite. As autumn unfolds with the white blooms of kaash flowers, the gentle fragrance of shiuli, and the crisp blue sky, Mahalaya announces the end of Pitru Paksha (fortnight of honoring ancestors) and the beginning of Devi Paksha—the sacred fortnight when Mother Durga begins her descent from Kailash to Earth.

It is the day that bridges remembrance and hope, past and future, ancestors and divinity. Above all, Mahalaya is the Agomoni—the invocation of the Goddess, when Bengalis across the world whisper: “Ma is coming home.”

Rituals of the Dawn: Tarpan for Ancestors

In Bengal, Mahalaya begins before sunrise, when countless devotees gather at the banks of the Ganga or other holy rivers to perform Tarpan. With wet clothes, folded hands, and sacred chants, they offer water, sesame, and prayers to their departed ancestors.

This ritual is more than remembrance—it is gratitude, the acknowledgment that we live because they lived. By offering tarpan, devotees seek blessings from their forefathers for peace, prosperity, and strength as the new sacred fortnight begins.

The Invocation of the Goddess

Mahalaya is inseparably linked to the immortal broadcast of “Mahishasuramardini”, first aired in 1931. Even today, Bengali households awake in the darkness of dawn, light incense, and tune into the recitation of the Chandi by Birendra Krishna Bhadra.

The sacred hymns narrate how the gods, oppressed by the demon Mahishasura, invoked Adi Shakti. From their collective energy emerged Maa Durga—ten-armed, radiant, and invincible—armed with weapons to restore cosmic balance.

The air fills with the hymn:

“Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Shakti Rupena Samsthita,
Namastasyai, Namastasyai, Namastasyai Namo Namah.”

“To the Goddess who abides in all beings as Power,
We bow to Her, we bow to Her, we bow to Her again and again.”

For devotees, this broadcast is not sound—it is prayer, it is awakening, it is the spiritual signal that Durga Puja has truly begun.

Traditional Beliefs and Practices

• Chokkhudaan (Painting of the Eyes) – On Mahalaya, artisans in Kumartuli and across Bengal traditionally paint the eyes of Maa Durga’s idol. This sacred act, done with utmost reverence, symbolizes the awakening of the Goddess—the moment when She comes alive to bless Her children.
  
  

• Beginning of Devi Paksha – With Mahalaya, Pitru Paksha concludes, and Devi Paksha commences. It is the turning of time from remembrance of ancestors to worship of the Mother Goddess.
  
  

• Homes in Prayer – Families rise early, light oil lamps and incense, blow the conch, and chant hymns, inviting Maa Durga into their hearts and homes.
  
  

The Eternal Message of Mahalaya

Mahalaya is more than ritual—it is a spiritual reminder. It teaches us to honor our ancestors, acknowledge the cycle of life, and prepare ourselves for the blessings of the Goddess.

It reminds us that whenever adharma (unrighteousness) rises, the Divine Mother manifests to protect Her children. For Bengalis, Mahalaya is not only the sound of the Chandi, the fragrance of autumn, or the beauty of the sky—it is the reassurance that Maa Durga is on Her way.

🌸 On Mahalaya, let us bow to our ancestors with gratitude, invoke the Divine Mother with devotion, and pray that Maa Durga removes all darkness from our lives and fills us with strength, peace, and divine grace. 🌸