Kolkata celebrates Mahalaya 2010 with Mahishasur Mardini by Birendra Kishore Bhadra

Kolkata, Oct 8, 2010 (Calcutta Tube/IBNS): The weeklong countdown for the Durga Puja began on Thursday with the auspicious Mahalaya marking the start of Devipaksha (Fortnight of the Goddess) amid rituals by the pious Hindus in the Ganges and the wee hours radio broadcast of the legendary Birendra Krishna Bhadra ‘s Mahishasur Mardini recital.

In a Bengali Radio tradition for more than half a century, All India Radio (Akashvani) Kolkata broadcasts spiritual poet Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s recitation Mahishashura Mardini (a collection of shlokas and songs dedicated to Goddess Durga) at 4 AM the day of Mahalaya, ushering the Bengali festival of Durga Puja.
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For hundreds of Hindus in the city the wet Thursday began at Babughat, on the banks of the Ganges, as they flocked to perform Tarpan — the ritual of praying for their departed ancestors.

Puja organisers rush to put in their finishing touches on their elaborate pandals.

Durga Puja is an annual Hindu festival which is celebrated by the Hindus all over the world they worship the Hindu goddess Durga.

The countdown to Durga Puja begins with the observance of Mahalaya on Thursday. The Hindus flocked to the river Ganges in Kolkata’s Babughat to perform the ritual of Tarpan (for the peace of their departed parents’ souls) as the day marks the beginning of Devipaksha (Fortnight of the Goddess).

Photos Avishek Mitra/IBNS.

Enjoy swastika mukherjee as Devi Durga,MohishashurMordini.Mahalaya 2006
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aU_ysU9sMk

Enjoy An Abridged Audio/Visual Presentation of an All India Radio Recording – MAHISASURAMARDINI : An Oratario Invoking The Goddess Durga (Sanskrit Chants and Bengali Devotional Songs)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz4nQaECLj0&feature=related