The Hindu community will celebrate Mahalaya, the auspicious occasion heralding the advent of goddess Durga, today (Sep 25) across the country.

With the beginning of 'Devipaksha', Mahalaya is observed six days before Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community. Usually, the Devi Paksha commences with Mahalaya Amavasya. 

According to Hindu mythology Mahalaya marks the last day of 'Krishnapaksha', which is a dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin.

In the Indian state of West Bengal, Mahalaya is depicted in a show-tell manner, with songs, enactments and dances on regional television channels. The television show is also viewed by a lot of people specially children in Bangladesh at dawn.

The most popular rendition of it, however, has been in the sonorous recorded voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra, whose collection of songs and mantras called Mahishasura Mardini are played customarily on the day of Mahalaya in every Bengali household mostly in West Bengal as well as in Bangladesh early in the morning.

Although Durga Puja will formally begin on October 1 through 'Shasti' puja, the advent of Durga will be herald from tomorrow. 

The nine-day festival of Navratri dedicated to Goddess Durga in the month of Ashwin usually commences soon after Pitru Paksha ends.

BDST: 1115 HRS, SEP 25, 2022
MN