Mahalaya binds the people of all religions and languages

Every year prior to the celebrations of Durga Puja Bengalis of both India and Bangladesh celebrate Mahalaya. It marks the end of pitripakshya thereby marking the beginning of this great festive moment of the Bengalis based of the above stated nations as well as around the globe.

The icon behind Mahalaya is none other than legendary Birendra Krishna Bhadra who has heralded the pride of Bengali culture and language not only in India and Bangladesh but also in other parts of the globe.

Now from various sources I have come to know that various countries under European and American continents Mahalaya is equally well known as there are quite good numbers of Bengalis based in those countries mainly because of professional purposes.

The play 'Mahishashura Mardini' which connotes in our heart 'we must shun evil forces from the threshold of our societies rather there should be the existence of purity in our heart and mind. Our aim should be such that we must attain perfection and transparency instead of chastising the opponents.

The mellifluous voice of Late Birendra Krishna Bhadra is still deeply embedded in the hearts of all cultural loving Bengalis in both India and Bangladesh. In fact modern generations are most likely not fully aware of that Late Birendra Krishna Bhadra was a person above excellence not only as an actor of repute but also a prolific writer in mother language of the highest order.

As South Asian societies are in utter turmoil it is 'Mahishashura Mardini' preaches to us that let us be more transparent so that our lives never remain in utter doldrums. We must strive to attain excellence in every academic and professional disciplines. This should be the motto to all of us.

As days pass off the golden legacies of Mahalaya and legendary Birendra Krishna Bhadra will never die down rather it will blossom to greater degree so that people around us learn something positives in life. Thus, in the subsequent paragraphs it is my humble task to introspect deeply how Mahalaya binds people of all religions and languages under one banner.

How Mahalaya is instrumental to bind people of all religions and languages under one banner?

Mahalaya marks the beginning of Devi Pakshya (beginning of festive moments) thereby marking the end of Pitri Pakshya (reminiscing of deceased parents). It also marks the beginning of fresh rejuvenation of not only Bengalis of India and Bangladesh but also people of other religions and languages in India and rest of the globe.

There was a time Mahalaya was rated that it is the celebration of Bengalis but now it has attained international acclaim. Mahishashura Mardini preaches to the societies that we must always think positives of us and societies rather feeling dilapidation of our societies.

Citizens who are residing in different parts of India, South Asian continent as well as rest of the globe should live in peace and calmness instead of indulging in any sort of hostilities among all of us. Rather our mind should be free and thus devoid of any hastles and frictions.

Thus whenever we listen to poignant melodies of Mahalaya then our mind becomes such that we generate fresh solace in us. Always we feel that coming year will be a year of success and prosperous for all of us.

In couple of episodes of Mahalaya we find that there was a gentleman by the name of Nazir Ahmad who chanted the hymns of Mahishashura Mardini but later on became so deeply emotional that tears started rolling down from his eyes stating it was not his prerogative rather it was Birenda's.

Now it is aptly true that Late Birendra Krishna Bhadra along with his Mahalaya teammates will always remain both immortal and legendary icon to all Bengalis as well as people around the globe.

Late Birendra Krishna Bhadra had built up such a team which consists of all legendary vocal musicians and scholars of those days such as Bani Kumar, Pankaj Kumar Mallick, Dwijen Mukherjee, Arun Krishna Ghosh, Sipra Bose, Sandhya Mukherjee, Sumitra Sen, Supriti Ghosh,  Utpala Sen, Manabendra Mukherjee etc various other vocalists of those days. Those most of them are now deceased but very few surviving but their legacies still cannot be forgotten forever.

The way modern societies of India and Bangladesh is turning to Mahalaya seems to be utterly relevant to citizens of India and Bangladesh.

Now in India whenever we turn the pages of our Print Medias we find social and political clashes eating up the vitals of our societies that is always advisable to entire nations that they should tune in to Mahalaya every year in order to derive solace from the program. 

One point sounds extremely vital in this regard is that despite tuning into the rhythms of Mahishashura Mardini we must try to interpret the noble message of Mahalaya into its positive sphere of our lives. We must be sympathetic about welfare of all human beings.

During five days of Durga Puja it should be the endeavor of all human beings to enjoy the moments amidst the feeling of oneness and communal harmony without expressing vices and hatred upon people of all religions and languages.

Summing up the above inference one point will always surmise in our mind that Mahalaya should be celebrated prior to Durga Puja wholeheartedly without any religious bigotry and hatred upon people of other religions and languages rather there should be bonhomie among all of us.


The writer is a freelance contributor based in Kolkata