Secrecy of Mahalaya
Secrecy of Mahalaya is unknown to many people. Mahalaya basically is the turning point of Pitra Paksha and Devi Paksha. This marked the beginning of the Durga Puja festival. Goddess Durga is believed to have descended to earth on this day. Bengalis traditionally wake up early in the morning on the day of Mahalaya to recite hymns from the Devi Mahatmya scriptures. Every Bengali family wakes up early in the morning to listen to the songs and mantras known as Mahishasuramardini”. It describes the birth of Goddess Durga and her final victory over the demon king “Mahishasura. ‘Jadaan’ or ‘tarpan’ is performed seeking peace of the departed ancestors and tributes are paid to the departed ancestors.
