Mahalaya today, countdown to Durga Puja begins

The countdown to Sharodiya Durga Puja, one of the main religious festivals of Bengali Hindus, begins today with the observance of Mahalaya.

Devipaksha begins on Saturday (October 10) with Mahalaya. Pitripaksha comes to an end at the same time. Followers of Sanatan Dharma will perform tarpan today in memory of their departed ancestors. They will pray for peace for their souls.

Mahalaya is an important date of Durgotsab. According to Hindu belief, Goddess Durga is invoked to descend to earth on this day. She is welcomed with the recitation of Chandipath at dawn. Special puja, ghat sthapan and Chandipath have been arranged at various temples and puja mandaps for the occasion.

According to the Puranas, Mahishasura became extremely powerful after receiving a boon from Brahma. Even the gods failed to defeat him. Goddess Durga was then born from the combined power of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar. Armed with weapons given by the gods, the lion-riding goddess entered battle against Mahishasura and killed him.

Devout Hindus remember their departed relatives and ancestors during Pitripaksha. They perform tarpan by offering water, sesame and rice. They pray for the peace of the souls. With Mahalaya, Pitripaksha ends and Devipaksha begins.

The Sharodiya Durga Puja will formally begin on October 16 with Shashthi puja. The five-day festival will end on October 21 with Bijoya Dashami.

According to religious belief, the goddess will arrive on earth this year on a horse and leave on a boat. This year, Durga Puja is being organized at 33,851 mandaps across the country.

EM/MT