Mahalaya, an auspicious occasion that heralds the advent of Goddess Durga, was celebrated this morning with due religious fervour and gaiety just a week ahead of Durga Puja, the largest festival of the Bangalee Hindu community slated for October 20-24.
On the occasion of the day, special programmes of Mahalaya were arranged at different temples across the country, including the capital at the dawn.
Hindu community members remembered and paid homage to their ancestors, who passed away, by performing puja, and offering clothes, food and sweets to Brahmins in their ancestors' names.
Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee arranged a special one-hour programme at Dhakeshwari National Temple at 6am as Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma along with his spouse Manu Verma attended the inaugural ceremony which began with the lighting up of pradip (earthen lamps) on the temple premises.
Gulshan-Banani Sarbajanin Puja Foundation organised a programme welcoming Goddess Durga at 5:30am at Banani playground in the capital.
According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga was created on the day of Mahalaya by Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswar to defeat the demon king Mahishasura so that devotees mark this day as the arrival of Goddess Durga to Earth from Kailash Parvat with her divine powers.
Mahalaya, which is celebrated six days before Durga Puja, also marks the end of Pitru Paksha, is a 16-lunar day period in the Hindu calendar when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors, especially through food offerings, and beginning of 'Devipaksha'.
Devipaksha commences with Mahalaya Amavasya that marks the last day of 'Krishna Paksha', which is a dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin.
Social media is abuzz with photos and videos shared and posted by Hindu community members welcoming the advent of Goddess Durga. Members of different faiths also greeted Hindus on the occasion of Mahalaya on social media.
On October 20, the five-day Durga Puja will begin with various rituals including Bodhon (incarnation), Abahon and Adhibas on the day of Maha Shashthi while it will come to an end with the immersion of idols on the day of Bijoya Dashami followed by Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami and Maha Nabami puja on October 21, October 22 and October 23 respectively.
MSH
