Durga Puja celebrations for 2024 have begun with Mahalaya, which was observed on October 2, marking the end of Pitru Paksha and the beginning of Devi Paksha

Mahishasura Mardini #durgapuja pic.twitter.com/Sog70LghyM

— Selvaraj Venkatesan (@niftytelevision) October 2, 2024

Durga Puja celebrations for 2024 have begun with Mahalaya, which was observed on October 2, marking the end of Pitru Paksha and the beginning of Devi Paksha. Here's what's happening:

Mahalaya Significance: Mahalaya is a significant day that heralds the arrival of Goddess Durga to Earth from her mythological home in Kailash. It's a day when people remember and pay homage to their ancestors through rituals like tarpaṇa, where offerings of water and food are made.

Cultural Celebrations: On Mahalaya, the air is filled with the sounds of "Mahishasura Mardini," a radio program traditionally broadcasted at dawn, featuring the voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra, which has now become an iconic way to invoke the spirit of Durga Puja. This recital, along with various cultural programs, sets the mood for the upcoming Durga Puja festivities.

Durga Puja Dates: Following Mahalaya, Durga Puja itself is set to take place from October 8 to October 13, 2024. This period includes significant days like Shashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, and finally, Dashami or Vijaya Dashami, when the immersion of Durga idols happens, symbolizing her return to her celestial abode.

Public Sentiment: People share greetings, express their joy about the beginning of the festive season, and share moments of cultural significance, like listening to the Mahishasura Mardini recital or participating in early morning rituals.

Community and Cultural Practices: Various communities are engaging in preparatory activities, including the decoration of pandals (temporary structures for the worship), and there's a general atmosphere of celebration and reverence across regions celebrating this festival, especially in Bengal and other parts of India where Durga Puja is a major event.

The spirit of Durga Puja, celebrating the victory of good over evil with the goddess Durga's triumph over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, is now in full swing, with Mahalaya having set the stage for one of the most awaited festivals in the Hindu calendar. 

#Mahalaya | Mahishasura Mardini by Birendra Krishna Bhadra pic.twitter.com/q4pKmYXntB

— Selvaraj Venkatesan (@niftytelevision) October 2, 2024