• The importance and rituals of Mahalaya 2022: Here's everything you need to know

    Spiritual
    The importance and rituals of Mahalaya 2022: Here's everything you need to know
    Mahalaya is all about the festivities leading up to Durga Puja. In general, people hold that Goddess Durga's journey from Mount Kailash.

    Digital Desk: Indians to celebrate Mahalaya on September 25, 2022, which heralds the conclusion of the Pitru Paksha, also known as Shradh or Shraddh, and the start of the Devi Paksha.

    Mahalaya has significant meaning, particularly for Bengalis as this day signals the start of Durga Puja celebrations. This day marks the conclusion of Shradh or Pitru Paksha, a fifteen-day period during which Hindus honour their ancestors. 

    This yearly celebration not only has religious and spiritual significance, but it also serves as a reminder of the strength of honesty and bravery as well as the universal reality that good will always prevail over evil.

    Mahalaya is Observed: 

    Mahalaya is observed on the day that marks the conclusion of Pitru Paksha, which is September 25 in 2022.

    Why is this day so Important and what meaning does it hold? 

    Mahalaya is all about the festivities leading up to Durga Puja. In general, people hold that Goddess Durga's journey from Mount Kailash, where she lives with her spouse Lord Shiva, to her maternal home on Earth officially starts on this day. 

    According to the Hindu calendar, Mahalaya celebrations start one week before those for Durga Pooja. As the tales say, Maa Durga is said to travel to the earth for a week with her children Ganesha, Kartik, Lakshmi, and Saraswati in a vehicle of her choosing. She might ride in a boat, elephant, horse, or palanquin.

    Additionally, it is thought that the choice of her vehicle will influence whether humanity would experience prosperity or calamity.

    How are the rituals of Mahalaya followed?

    Every Bengali household gets up early on Mahalaya, well before the sun comes up. The event is connected to a variety of customs and traditions. 

    On this day, many people engage in "tarpan" to offer prayers to their deceased ancestors' spirits and give "bhog" to the Brahmins in exchange for food and supplies for the less fortunate. 

    On this day, certain Hindu households perform the pitru tarpan ritual, in which they make prayers and offerings (pind daan) to their deceased ancestors along the banks of the Ganges River.

    Even on the radio, people choose to listen to Mahishasuramardini's compositions. Additionally, a particular ceremony is connected to the goddess's painted eyes. The final touch by artisans is to draw Ma Durga's eyes on Mahalaya.

    Wish all the netizens a Shubho Mahalaya!