Mahalaya Ritual

It has become an annual ritual in our house to wake up early on Mahalaya morning and listen to Mahisasuramardini. This tradition likely began with my maternal grandmother, a devotee of Goddess Durga, who lived in Patna surrounded by Bengali households. It continued even after she moved to Banaras, and later my mother passed it on to her daughters.

Mahalaya marks the end of Pitr-Paksha and the beginning of Devi-Paksha in the Hindu calendar. It is the last day of the Shraddha (or Tarpan) fortnight, a ritual performed for departed ancestors and considered inauspicious. Mahalaya ushers in a month of festivities, starting with Durga Puja and culminating in Diwali. It is believed that this is the day when Goddess Durga departs her abode and begins her journey to her maternal home. It is also the day when Durga’s idols are completed, with the painting of her eyes, symbolically bringing her to life.

Mahisasuramardini has been broadcasted by All India Radio since 1931, narrated by Birendra Krishna Bhadra, scripted by Bani Kumar, and musically composed by Pankaj Kumar Mallick. Until 1966, it was performed live in the AIR studios, after which the recorded version was played. It is said that the AIR studio was decorated with flowers and incense, creating a temple-like atmosphere for the performance.

The program is an oratorio from the Durgā Saptashatī or Chandī-Pātha or Devi Mahatamya (The Glory of the Goddess). Mahisasuramardini tells the story of the creation of Durga by the combined powers of all the male gods, forming a supreme female force that embodies the energy of the entire universe. She was created to destroy the demon Mahisasura, a victory celebrated on Mahalaya, giving the day its name.

My early memories of Mahalaya involve waking up with my mother, sipping tea in the verandah, and listening to the radio while it was still dark. In those days, it wasn’t easy to get a recording for later, so this was the only opportunity to hear the beautiful chanting. I remember some years when my mother was too tired to get up, I would set an alarm and listen on a small, palm-sized transistor while still in bed.

For many years now, everyone in the family has had music CDs of the recording, and it plays not only on Mahalaya but sometimes on all days of Navratri. In recent years, CDs have been replaced by YouTube or Apple/ Amazon music, but the tradition remains.

The sounds and smells of Mahalaya evoke memories and emotions that linger forever. For me, it’s a reminder of that time of year when the hot, humid weather gives way to a slight chill in the air, at least during the early mornings. As the stillness of the night gives way to the hustle and bustle of dawn—with the chirping of birds and the sounds of worshippers heading to the temples—the recital comes to an end, and the day begins.

Shubho Mahalaya…