Pune: Pune’s Bengali community came together to celebrate Mahalaya, which is marked as the beginning of Durga Puja, with great enthusiasm and fervour at Bangiya Sanskriti Samsad in Bhosale Nagar on Sunday morning.

The city-based Bengali artists created a vocal drama on Mahalaya, a tale of Mahishasurmardini, told in the form of recital and devotional songs from Chandipath, which is held early in the morning. According to mythology, Durga was created by the blessing of several gods to defeat King Mahishasu, hence the name Mahishasurmardini stands as an epitome of woman power and good over evil.

Another significance of Mahalaya is that by offering prayers, chants and recitals, Bengalis also take this opportunity to invite Durga Maa to come home with her children.

Mahalaya is observed seven days before the main Durga Puja commences from Panchami (the fifth day of Navratri) when Durga Maa arrives with her children - Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh and Kartika, from Kailash to her paternal home on earth. This year, Mahalaya was on September 19.

However, Mahalaya is also nostalgic for many Bengalis, which reminds them of their childhood. “On Mahalaya, we used to wake up early at 4 am in the morning to listen to the vibrant voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra, who recited Mahalaya’s recitals. At many places, prayers and puja were conducted, but this was the day we knew Pujo is not far and that the planning of months for those five days of Pujo would roll out soon,” said Sukanya Basu.

“Through this occasion, all Probashi Bengalis (non-resident Bengalis) get an opportunity to come together and celebrate the commencement of the most awaited period of our year, Durga Puja. Also, this is a ritual we have been following for years, to perform Mahalaya at Bangiya Sanskriti Samsad,” said Vice-President (Cultural) of Bangiya Sanskriti Samsad, Madhumita Ghosh.