History of Mahalaya

Mahalaya is a national festival and has two dimensions i.e Devaparva or prayers offered to God and Pitarparva or penance and worship of your ancestor. The latter is also named Shraddha or food offered with a sense of gratitude and affection. In The pitarpaksha season for 15 days Hindu pay their respect near a lake or a river called Pindadana to all his relatives and deceased elders or a common platform. This is also the most appropriate occasion for tantric tradition and offering to Goddess Chandi.

The traditional six day countdown to Mahasaptami starts from Mahalaya. Goddess Durga visits the earth for only four days but seven days prior to the Pujas, starts the Mahalaya. The enchanting voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra fill up the predawn hours of the day thus marking the beginning of "devipaksha" and the beginning of the count-down of Durga Puja.

Hear online Birendra Krishna Bhadra

Durga Puja spans over a period of ten days but the main part of the Puja is limited to four days. In Hindu tradition, the fifteen days from the new moon up to the next full moon is called as Debi/Devi Paksha, and is regarded as the best time for doing any sacred, religious and auspicious activity or event. On the day of the last new moon before the Mahalaya, the eyes of the idols are designed and the process is called Chakshudaan and with Mahalaya, the Durga Puja commences.

Chakshudaan - shaping the eyes

Sarat in its bloom, mingled with the festive spirit of Durga Puja reaches its pitch on the day of Mahalaya.It is according to the myths that Sree Rama hastily performed Durga Puja just before he set for Lanka to rescue Sita from Ravana. According to Puranas, King Suratha, used to worship the goddess Durga in spring.

Seasonal "kaash" flower blooms during Sarat

Thus Durga Puja was also known as Basanti Puja. But Rama proponed the Puja and worshiped Durga in autumn and that is why it is known as 'Akal Bodhon' or untimely worship. It was considered untimely as it is in the myths that puja was performed when the Gods and Goddesses were awake i.e. "Uttarayan" and was not held when the Gods and Goddesses rested ie."Dakshinayan". It was on the day of Mahalaya, the beginning of "devipoksha", the Gods and Goddesses woke up to prepare themselves for Durga Puja.

According to another legend, the renowned hero of the Mahabharata, Karna, when he left the mortal coil, ascended to the higher worlds and the great charity he had done here was returned to him hundredfold. But, it was all gold and silver; there was no food, as he had not done any food-charity! He prayed to the god of death. So, he was sent back to earth for fourteen days, to make up for this deficiency. For fourteen days, he fed Brahmins and the poor, and offered oblations of water. On his return to the higher regions, he had food in plenty. It is these fourteen days that are commemorated in the Mahalaya Paksha. Due to the grace of the god of death, it has been ordained that offerings made during this period benefit all the departed souls, whether they are connected to you or not. Charity in the form of food is important during this observance. Life depends upon food. You cannot preach religion to empty stomachs. This human body is the most important vehicle for realising God. How precious must food be which keeps the body fit for Yoga! The gift of food is the greatest gift.

Therefore, give food in plenty, not only during the Mahalaya fortnight but all through the year.