Two different scriptural issues
Mahalaya & Durga puja two different scriptural issues but people think they are same. A certain period of Amavasya at the end of Krishna Paksha or Pitra Paksha and the beginning of Shukla Paksha or Devi Paksha is called Mahalaya in Sanatana Dharma. And in this case, the question is what is Mahalaya? The word mahalaya literally means great shelter or refuge. That is, Maha + Aloya across this word. However, according to the rules of the treaty, the word should be ‘Mahalay’. But there is no grammatical explanation behind saying ‘Mahalaya’. According to experts, the word is feminized as ‘Mahalaya’ as it auspicious beginning of Devi Paksha.
In this case, Goddess Durga is the great goddess. From the Puranas to the Mahabharata, there are many stories about Mahalaya. According to Puranas, Mahishasur became immortal as Brahma’s bridegroom. Only a female force was certain to defeat him. When the gods were fed up with the tyranny of the Asuras, the Trishakti Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar created the female power. She is the Goddess Durga. Durga killed Mahishasura with the weapons given by the gods. That’s why it is believed that this festival destroys evil forces and establishes good forces.
Although Durga Puja has no direct connection with Mahalaya. Rather, Mahalaya has a separate mahatma. Mahalaya is not a festival associated with Durga Puja. In fact, this day is a day to pay respect to the ancestors. Even if one does not perform tarpan at any time throughout the year, the tarpan of Mahalaya is considered to be sarvassiddhi.
Navratri festival begins the day after Mahalaya. On this day, eyes are painted on Durga idols in many homes. According to the Ramayana, Ravana started the Puja of Goddess Durga during spring, which is now known as Basanti Puja. Sri Ramachandra later organized the Durga Puja in autumn, known as Akal Bodhan. Since then, Shardia Durga Puja has been going on for ages. Durga Puja used to be held in Rajbari or Zamindar’s house. On the day of the Chariot, the structure was worshiped and on the day of Mahasaptami, after the entry of the Navapatrika, the eyes of the goddess were celebrated. Since Devi Paksha begins on Mahalaya day, subsequently the practice of painting the idol’s eyes begins on Mahalaya day itself.
