The countdown for the Durga Puja begins much earlier; it is only from the day of Mahalaya that the preparations for the Puja reach the final stage. What has become an indispensable part of Mahalaya is an early morning radio program. 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 to Durga Puja.
Autumn in its bloom, mingled with the festive spirit of Durga Puja reaches its pitch on the day of Mahalaya. The time has arrived for the mother to come, for the people to meet their beloved ones and to worship the Power and the glory of stree shakti (women power) as the devipaksha takes over pitripaksha for the time onwards.
On this day Bengali's visits the River Ganges or other rivers. The dark fortnight of amavashya is known as the mahalaya paksha or the fortnight especially sacred for offering oblations to the departed ancestors. The day of Mahalaya is also the day of remembrance. Thousands of people gather at the rivers early in the morning to offer tarpan in memory of their forefathers.
The banks of rivers become a sea of humanity. Priests are seen busy performing tarpan for devotees in groups. The rituals start from early dawn and end during the midday. Devotees and worshipers buy clothes and sweets to offer to their forefathers. Tarpan is to be performed in empty stomach and after offering tarpan, people eat at the same place.
Since the early 1930s, Mahalaya has come to associate itself with an early morning radio program called mahisasura mardini’ or 'The Annihilation of the Demon.' This All India Radio (AIR) program is a beautiful audio montage of recitation from the scriptural verses of chandi kavya', Bengali devotional songs, classical music and a dash of acoustic melodrama.
This program has almost become synonymous with Mahalaya. For nearly six decades now, the whole of Bengal rises up in the chilly pre dawn hours, 4 am to be precise, of the Mahalaya day to tune in to the mahisasura mardini broadcast.
One man, who'll always be remembered for making Mahalaya memorable to one and all, is Birendra Krishna Bhadra, the magical voice behind the mahisasura mardini. The legendary narrator recites the holy verses and tells the story of the descent of Durga to earth, in his inimitable style. Bhadra has long passed away, but his recorded voice still forms the core of the Mahalaya program.
In a sonorous, reverberating voice Birendra Bhadra renders the Mahalaya recital for two thrilling hours, mesmerizing every household with the divine aura of his narration, as the Bengalis submerge their souls in quiet moments of prayer.
As the recital begins, the serene morning air resonates with the long drawn sound of the sacred conch shell, immediately followed by a chorus of invocation, melodiously setting the stage for the recitation of the 'Chandi Mantra'.
The whole world wakes up from slumber to greet the onset of Durga Puja of which Mahalaya is the first step. With Mahalaya the Bengalis get busy to complete the final preparations for their greatest festival - Durga Puja. Normally, bonus to all employees is paid latest by Mahalaya – hence, the shopping spree also gains momentum with shops displaying the latest designs, and inviting customers to participate in various gift schemes.
Mahalaya is not a myth but a concept and a tribute to the primeval source of power, the qualities of all inundated in form of one shakti, one nari, the unity of power, energy and enterprise within one soul one body. She is a manifestation of majestic might and unified strength, preeminently materialised to protect humanity and restore normalcy in the process of creation from the evil incarnates.
Ya Devi svarbhabhuteshu Saktirupena sangstitha
|| namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah ||
Ya Devi svarbhabhuteshu Matrirupena sangstitha
|| namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah ||
Ya Devi svarbhabhuteshu Santirupena sangstitha
|| namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah ||
Listen / download the 'Mahisasura Mardini' here:
. . .
No comments:
Post a Comment