COME SEPTEMBER 28, and people, especially Hindus all over the world, will get enthused in festive fever as Mahalaya signals to the people to get busy in completing the final preparations for the great festival – Durga Puja. As October makes its entry, the monsoon clouds recede in the distant horizon, to be replaced by an azure blue sky with flakes of fluffy white moving at a leisurely pace from one end of the sky to the other. There is a chill in the early morning air, with drops of dew covering the grass carpet beneath your feet. The tender corns of paddy sway in the breeze, rivers are full, the trees regain their charm, flowers bloom all over the countryside and birds disturb the silence with their happy chirpings. There is no need to announce that Sharodatsav has arrived! You can literally feel the festive mood setting in. The eastern part of India goes gaga over Durga Puja, the north and the south prepare to burn effigies of the demon King Ravana to celebrate Dussera, whilst the west gets ready to dance to the tunes of the dandiya to usher in Navaratri.

Durgotsav, as it is called, starts from Mahalaya – this is the day that Godess Durga is supposed to start her journey from Her husband’s house in Mount Kailash in the Himalayas to come to Her mother’s place, accompanied by Her children. On this auspicious day, early in the morning, at four o’ clock to be precise, a two hour long programme is broadcast in Bengali from Akashvani Kolkata. A two hour pre-recorded cassette titled Mahisasur Mardini had been released by the Gramophone Company of India (Ltd), Calcutta in 1983. The recitation of the shlokas in fluent Sanskrit is by Birendra Krishna Bhadra and the music direction is by Pankaj Kumar Mallick. It was broadcast for the first time way back in 1932!! Birendra Krishna Bhadra was only 28 years old at that time. The legendary narrator recites the holy verses and tells the story of the descent of Durga to earth, in his inimitable style. Bhadra is no more, but his recorded voice still forms the core of the Mahalaya programme. In a sonorous, reverberating voice Birendra Bhadra renders the Mahalaya recital for two thrilling hours, mesmerising every household with the divine aura of his narration, as the people submerge their souls in quiet moments of prayer.

The story of Mahisasura Mardini is captivating. It speaks of the increasing cruelty of the demon King Mahisasura against the Gods. Unable to tolerate his tyranny, the Gods plead with Vishnu to annihilate the demon. The demon ‘Mahisasura’ signifies the umpteen-plus-one faces of evil and the weapons of Durga signify the innumerable weapons at our own disposal to tackle the evils that we face every day. She is the Goddess with several names – Narayani, Brahmani, Maheswari, Shivaduti, Shaktirupi etc. The weapons were gifted to her by the Gods – with the single purpose of slaying the demon. Lord Shiva gave her the trident; Vishnu stepped in with his Sudarshan Chakra; Indra chipped in with thunder; Surya, the Sun God, gave her the bow and arrow whilst Viswakarma gave her the shield and other protective clothing. Brahma contributed the kamandalu, Kuber, the multi jewelled necklace and Yamraj, the kaldanda. In addition, the Himalayas gave her the lion, to carry her into the warfront. After a fierce combat, the Durgatinashini is able to slay the Asura King with her trident. Heaven and earth rejoice at her victory. Finally, the mantra narration ends with the refrain of mankind’s supplication before this Supreme Power:

Ya Devi Sarbabhuteshshu, Sakti Rupena Sanksthita Namasteshwai Namasteshwai Namasteshwai Namo Namaha.

The day of Mahalaya is also the day of remembrance. On this day, people offer tarpan in memory of their deceased 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 at midday. Devotees and worshipers buy clothes and sweets to offer to their forefathers. Tarpan is to be performed on an empty stomach. After offering tarpan, people eat at the same place.

This festival depicts the victory of goodness over evil. The occasion of Mahalaya always reminds mankind of the divine scheme of things, that though evil may have had its say, but it is ultimately the good that has the last laugh. Mahalaya, truly is not a myth but a concept and a tribute to the primeval source of power, the qualities of all inundated in the 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, pre-eminently materialised to protect humanity and restore normalcy in the process of creation from the evil incarnates.

Prosenjit Piklu Dutta