Mahalaya 2023 is a unique time in the Hindu calendar when people pause to reflect on their spiritual path and sincerely ask Goddess Durga for her blessings.
Mahalaya is an important day in Hindu traditions, especially in Bengali communities, since it marks the start of Devi Paksha, a two-week season of devotion to Goddess Durga. It occurs a week prior to Durga Puja and ushers in the new moon. Mahalaya Day will fall on October 14 in 2023.
On this day, the Durga Puja celebrations and preparations begin, with spectacular processions, elaborate decorations, cultural performances, and customary rituals. Additionally, it signifies the conclusion of Pitru Paksha, a sixteen-day Hindu holiday dedicated to ancestors.
During the nine-day period known as Devi Paksha, people give prayers and offerings to Goddess Durga.
Tarpan rites are commonly performed in the Ganges River as part of Mahalaya traditions in Eastern India. Water and other offerings are presented during the tarpan ritual to support and commemorate departed ancestors. Hindus believe that by doing this ritual on Mahalaya, they are assisting their ancestors in finding peace in the hereafter.
Mahalaya, to put it simply, is a day set aside to honor both the living and the dead. It’s a time when we should reflect on our relationship with our ancestors and seek their blessings. Additionally, Durga Puja, a celebration honoring the might and power of Goddess Durga, has just begun.
Bengalis all over the world are ecstatic that Durga Puja 2023 is just around the horizon. Preparations for this festive occasion begin months in advance and are met with a great deal of enthusiasm and excitement. Durga Puja celebrations are like a grand carnival for Bengalis, with activities like visiting exquisitely decorated pandals to gaze at the exquisite clay idols of Goddess Durga, participating in cultural events, dressing up in your best attire, and partaking in delicious feasts with family and friends.
Devi Paksha, which starts on Mahalaya and ends Pitru Paksha, serves as a signal for the start of this big festival. The mesmerizing voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra reading the Mahishasuramarddini reverberates from radios in every home as Kolkata, the city of joy, awakens. Kolkata prepares to welcome the Goddess with great devotion and boundless joy as the aroma of kaash flowers fills the air.
Mahalaya is regarded as having a particular place in Bengali culture. It’s a day when people get up as early as four in the morning to turn on the radio and listen to Birendra Krishna Bhadra, a late radio announcer, narrate Mahishashur Mardini. This tale of the victory of Goddess Durga over Mahishashura is more than just a story; it is a poetic and musical journey.
In addition, the family elders perform a ritual called as Tarpan as a way of honoring their ancestors. This practice honors and remembers those who came before by offering water to the souls of their ancestors on the banks of the Ganges.Last but not least, sculptors on Mahalaya have a special responsibility. They painstakingly sculpt Goddess Durga’s eyes, fill them with vivid colors, and then perform a particular puja, or ritual, to evoke the divine presence within the idol. The artistic journey that leads to the lavish Durga Puja celebrations begins with this careful technique.
Here are some greetings, wishes to welcome Maa Durga if you and your loved ones are celebrating Mahalaya this year on Facebook, WhatsApp, and other social media platforms:
- “May Maa Durga’s heavenly blessings fill your life with joy, peace, and wealth. “Happy Mahalaya!”
- “May you be filled with power, courage, and love on this blessed Mahalaya day. Say “Subho Mahalaya!”
- “May Maa Durga’s presence enrich your life with happiness and success as we welcome her into our homes and hearts. Say “Shubho Mahalaya!”
- “Let Goddess Durga’s heavenly force lead you through the difficulties of life. A blessed Mahalaya to you.
- “May Maa Durga’s return put an end to your problems and usher in a new era of bliss. Say “Subho Mahalaya!”
- “May you and your family be blessed with health, wealth, and harmony on this Mahalaya. Say “Shubho Mahalaya!”
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