Mahalaya is an auspicious occasion observed seven days before the Durga Puja: History And Significance

Mahalaya announces the advent of Durga, the goddess of supreme power. It's a kind of invocation or invitation to the mother goddess to descend on earth - "Jago Tumi Jago". This is done through the chanting of mantras and singing devotional songs. 

 Mahalaya is the day when many throng to the banks of river Ganga, to offer prayers to their dead relatives and forefathers. The ritual is known as 'Torpon'.

One man who'll always be remembered for making Mahalaya memorable in every Bengali household is Birendra Krishna Bhadra, the magical voice behind the "Mahisasura Mardini." The legendary narrator recites the holy verses and tells the story of the descent of Durga to earth, in his inimitable style.

In a sonorous, reverberating voice Birendra Bhadra renders the Mahalaya recital for two thrilling hours, mesmerizing every household with the divine aura of his narration, as the Bengalis submerge their souls in quiet moments of prayer. 

 Pitri-Paksha: It is also known as Shola Shraddha or sixteen Shraddhas or food offerings. According to numerous Puranas of Hindu, during this period a shraddha performance by son is compulsory to make sure the ancestors soul goes to heaven. This is in Bengali called "Torpon". This shraddha is performed during the pre-dawn or dawn time in the river.The son remembers his ancestors by propitiation and food offerings and also takes holy dips in the river. This performance is also known by Pinda Dana. This day is very significant for Bengalis.

Devi Paksha: Devi Paksha means the Goddess Period. Actually Devi Durga comes to earth seven days before the main puja takes place. From Mahalaya day the four day grand Durga Puja countdown begins.In Hindu tradition from New Moon to Full Moon of Bhadra the fifteen days period is known for Goddess Period or Devi Paksha. In this period Hindus believe the best time to do any sacred work. In northern India the nine day following the new moon of bhadra is called Navaratri.

According to Purana on this day Lord Rama worshipped Devi Durga before departing for Lanka to rescue Devi Sita from demon Ravana. Traditionally Durga Puja used to performed in spring time by King Suratha. That is why it is also known as Basanti Puja. But Lord Rama worshipped Devi Durga in autumn state that is why it is also known as Untimely Worshipping or Akaal 'Bodhan'.
Akaal Bodhan because the time Lord Rama worshipped Devi Durga at the time God and goddess were in awakened state.

On the last new moon day just before the Mahalaya, the idols or Durga Protima colored specially the eyes are shaped which is called "Chakshu Daana".

Another dimension can also be found to describe Mahalaya period. The legendary philanthropist of Mahabharata period, Karna use to donate gold and other wealth to people. He was so charitable that he was also called as Data Karna. When he died, due to his good work done in the earth he got back those in thousand fold in heaven. Karna's soul was hungry by then and asked for food but he was served by gold and silver. He gets frustrated and asked the god of death Yama the reason. Yama replied throughout his whole life he had donated gold and silver only but never donated food to anyone even to his ancestors. Karna being afraid replied to Yama that, he was unaware of his ancestors. He was then sent back to earth by Yama for 14 days, where Karna fed the poor people and made offer to his ancestors. After 14 day period ends he returned back to heaven and was served by huge amount of food. So these 14 days are honored as Mahalaya Period.

Mahalaya-The Akaashvani Connection:

In the Mahalaya day at the Pre-dawn time Devi Mahatyam or Mahisasura Mardini recitation is aired every year by All India Radio in the magical voice of Great Birndra Krishna Bhadra. The way he depicted the story of Devi Durga in this recitation in one word just irreplaceable. Without listening Birendra Krishna Bhadra Durga Puja celebration in Bengal and for Bengalis is incomplete.

"Jago oooooo Tumi Jagoooo" How mesmerizing one. Just thrilled.

 Significance :-

The new moon day known as the Mahalaya Amavasya is the beginning of Dussehra. It is a special day dedicated to making an offering to express our gratitude to all the previous generations of people who have contributed to our life.

Scientists say that human beings and their ancestors have existed on this planet for 20 million years. That is a lot of time. All these hundreds of thousands of generations that lived on this planet before us have given us something or the other. The language that we speak, the way we sit, our clothes, our buildings – almost everything that we know today has come to us from generations before us.

When only animals existed on this planet, it was all about survival, eating, sleeping, reproduction and dying one day. Then slowly, this animal which knew only survival, started evolving. From being horizontal, it started standing up; the brain started growing, and this animal’s ability to do things suddenly started multiplying. The significant thing about being human is that we can use tools. This simple ability of using tools, we multiplied or made it grow into technologies. The day an ape picked up a thighbone of an animal and started fighting with that bone instead of with just his hands; when, apart from his own body, he had the necessary intelligence to start using tools to make his life, in some way that was the beginning of human life on the planet.

 Now, human beings started structuring lives so that we could live a little better than animals. Shelters came up, buildings came up, clothes came – so many things happened on this planet because of human beings. From simple things like making fire to discovering the wheel and innumerable other things, this legacy has been passed on from generation to generation. 

 We are who we are today only because of all the things that have been given to us. Let us say, human beings had never worn clothes, and suppose you were the first person who had to stitch a shirt, it would not be easy; it would take many years to figure out how to stitch a shirt.

We have taken all the things that we have today for granted. But without the generations that came before us, firstly we would not exist here; secondly, without their contribution we would not have all the things that we have today. So instead of taking them for granted, today is a day when we express our gratitude to all of them.  It is done as a ritual to pay homage to one’s dead parents, but is actually an expression of gratitude for all those generations of ancestors who lived before us.

During this time, in the Indian subcontinent, new crops would have just begun to bear yield. So their first produce is offered to the ancestors as a mark of respect and thankfulness, by way of pinda, before the whole population breaks into celebration in the form of other festivals like Navaratri, Vijayadashami and Diwali.