Mahalaya:A Once-a-Year Popular Radio Prog - Page 4

SHUBHO BIJOYA

The tenth day or Dashami is also known as Bijoya Dashami, as this was the day on which Devi Durga attained victory over buffalo demon Mahishasura. This day also coincides with Dussehra, the tenth day of Navaratri celebration. Durga Puja is not just a religious celebration. It is a social and cultural celebration. This is the occasion to send invitations and spend some quality time with your friends, family and acquaintances, to let them know your appreciation and wish each other Shubho Bijoya, the common phrase used to wish someone, a blessed bijoya.

This is also the last day of worshipping Maa Durga, this is the day when idol of Goddess Durga will be immersed in the near by river. With colorful and majestic parade accompanied by Dhunuchi dance, a kind of ritualistic dance and beating of the dhaak, the idol is taken to the near by river. With the believers yelling loudly, proclaiming, next year it'll happen once again, the idol is immersed in the river water. A sense of sadness suddenly overshadows the festive mood as one has to wait for another year to feel the elation associated with Durga Puja celebration.

Several emotional and ritualistic customs take place on Bijoya Dashami before the idol of Maa Durga is taken for immersion. One such colorful and emotional custom is "Sindoor Khela" - "The Game of Vermillion". This custom is practiced exclusively by the married women. Before the idol of Durga leaves for immersion they put sweet on the lips of the clay idol and wipe the corner of the eyes as someone wipes off the tears before bidding goodbye for a long time. Vermilion which is a symbol of marital bliss is applied on the forehead of the Goddess and among each other. The vermilion powder is applied at the parting of women's hair which symbolizes to strengthen the marital bond. The sindoor is also applied on the red and white traditional bangles and on the 'loha' which is an iron bangle interlaced with gold or silver, presented to the bride by her mother in law as an acknowledgement of marriage. All these rituals are performed along with the friends and family, though every one can not take part in it but it is a wonderful experience to witness this living theatre of color, life and emotion.

This is also the time to meet up with friends and relatives living far off places, as they try to come back to their loved ones at this time of the year. In the evening they enjoy a hearty conversation or light hearted chit chats with their friends and family members, whom they missed all year long.

On Shubho Bijoya people invite others to come to their place and spend joyous time in the spirit of the celebration.They also visit the homes of their friends and acquaintances to thank them for there care and wish them shubho bijoya. Adults embrace each other with warm wishes, exchange gifts and greet Shubho Bijoya to each other, which is known as KolaKuli in Bengali. The children in an expression to show respect toward the elders touch the feet and seek their blessings.

The sumptuous dishes and mouth watering sweetmeats prepared for this special occasion are an integral part of Shubho Bijoya. Such yummy treats like 'malpoa' and probably the most popular snack, 'Nimki' are among the regular items in the Shubho Bijoya menu. Nowadays people buy the sweets and snacks straight from the market and don't go in to all the trouble of making it at home. Friends and family devour these special treats, enjoy the festivity, catch up with friends and soak up the spirit of celebration.

Originally posted by: musicbug

Varshaji, both are same. 8th day of Navratri is same as Maha Astami in eastern India. BTW, I also miss the Navratri as well. So much fun during this period; Garba, Dandiya .... whole night, amazing festival. 👏

I have my childhood memories of Pujo outside bengal in places where bengalis and even Indians were very small communities.. we used to have a common ground where we used to have the Durga protima and puja on one side and Navaratri festival and dandiya on the other side... all used to celebrate together 😊 Dandiya - again so very colorful.. I almost always used to do the wrong steps and put my friends into trouble 😕😆

Originally posted by: jayc1234

I have my childhood memories of Pujo outside bengal in places where bengalis and even Indians were very small communities.. we used to have a common ground where we used to have the Durga protima and puja on one side and Navaratri festival and dandiya on the other side... all used to celebrate together 😊 Dandiya - again so very colorful.. I almost always used to do the wrong steps and put my friends into trouble 😕😆

I have the same experience. This is why India is a great country. So many different cultures, still there is a point of conversion. I learned garba and had participated but Dandiya, used to hit my friends, and wrong steps were always there. 😆😆😆

Fantastic thread. Thank you Barnali! My mother listens to the AIR transmission at 4am every year, but I have always been lax when it came to rituals. This time I have decided, I will come out of my lethargy. I will wake up at 6:30am to hear the shlokas because that will match with 4am in India. Gives me extra 2.5 hours of sleep. 😃

Barnali, the Badongo link is not allowing me to download. Is it possible for you to upload on Turboupload?

Originally posted by: punjini

Barnali, the Badongo link is not allowing me to download. Is it possible for you to upload on Turboupload?

I think she has left on Puja shopping by now 😆. I have the file with me now. Let me upload it and post. Give me few minutes Sahana.

Originally posted by: MrspetloverUS

I miss Navratri in India too. Mumabi has its own fun but when u go to Gujarat it is totally awesome. No one sleeps for weeks. Pujas, All that music and dancing is just amazing.

Varshaji, do you plan to attend any of the navratri dandiya dances in your area this year.

Bombay is fun, but Ahmedabad is much better, as the culture is still followed there.

Where i grew up, there was a gujarathi colony and as children, we would love to go and join them in the dandiyas and it was much better earlier, with the puja and the traditional songs.

Now it is just the new songs which are played and the traditional dandiya is almost forgotten in all the commercial Dandiya events which are organised.

We celebrate Navratri too. Though it is in a sense Durga Puja, the south indians have a different way of celebration.

Typically, every south indian household (at least tamilians and tamil brahmins from kerala) have GOLU in their houses.

Golu is basically a stand consisting of 2,5,7, or 9 step (like a staircase) which is decorated and adorned with dolls all of which signify some story from our puranas. Decorative lights, flowers, rangoli etc are used to decorate the Golu.

Important part of the golu is the two silver cups containing rice and pulses, which signify properity. Another important part, without which the Golu is incomplete are the Marapachis - i.e. dolls of wood. These are traditional dolls which are handed down over generations and which is given to the daughter - in law of the house on her marriage and first navaratri.
This is how a golu looks like.



This is the traditional Marapachi or the dolls in wood.

Navaratri is a festival that lasts nine days and nine nights. The word Navaratri actually means nine (Nava) nights (ratri). This is celebrated in different styles throughout India. Navaratri occurs during the first 9 days of the bright half of the month of Aashwayuja in the Indian calendar. The most significant part of Navaratri is the setting up an odd number of steps (usually 7, 9, or 11), and the placement of different idols of Gods on them. This setup is called a Golu. Generally, when people come to a person's house to see their Golu, they are given prasad (the offering given to God that day), kumkum (red powder), and a small bag of gifts usually containing a mirror, a comb, a small box of kumkum, and fruits. These are only given to girls and married women. This is chiefly a woman's festival.

Navaratri is the worship of the three divine goddesses, Saraswati (Goddess of learning and speech), Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth and prosperity), and Durga (Goddess of strength and courage). It is also said to be the battle that occurred between Goddess Chaamundeshwari and the asura (demon), Mahishaasura. The battle lasted 9 days and 9 nights. Finally, on the tenth day, Goddess Chaamundeshwari killed Mahishaasura. This day is known as Vijayadasami. Vijayadasami means the 10th day of victory.

Today, Vijayadasami is supposed to be one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu year. Some schools in India start on this day. Children first starting their education are taught some of the basics by a priest on this day.

Navaratri and Vijayadasami are celebrated with sweets and snack items; one of each are made on each of the ten days. One snack food, chundal, is made on all of the ten days

Above: This setup is called a Golu.. Idols of different gods or goddesses are placed here for all of the nine nights. There are usually an odd number of steps.

Navaratri

SALUTATIONS to the Divine Mother, Durga, who exists in all beings in the form of intelligence, mercy, beauty, who is the consort of Lord Shiva, who creates, sustains and destroys the universe.

This festival is observed twice a year, once in the month of Chaitra and then in Aswayuja. It lasts for nine days in honour of the nine manifestations of Durga. During Navaratri (the word literally means "nine nights") devotees of Durga observe a fast. Brahmins are fed and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property.

The beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctions of climatic and solar influence. These two periods are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother.

The Durga Puja is celebrated in various parts of India in different styles. But the one basic aim of this celebration is to propitiate Shakti, the Goddess in Her aspect as Power, to bestow upon man all wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge (both sacred and secular), and all other potent powers.

Durga Puja or Navaratri commences on the first and ends on the tenth day of the bright half of Aswayuja (September-October). It is held in commemoration of the victory of Durga over Mahishasura, the buffalo-headed demon. In Bengal Her image is worshipped for nine days and then cast into water. The tenth day is called Vijaya Dasami or Dussera (the "tenth day"). Processions with Her image are taken out along the streets of villages and cities.

The mother of Durga (that is, the wife of the King of the Himalayas) longed to see her daughter. Durga was permitted by Lord Shiva to visit her beloved mother only for nine days in the year. The festival of Durga Puja marks this brief visit and ends with the Vijaya Dasami day, when Goddess Durga leaves for Her return to Mount Kailas. This is the view of some devotees.

In Bengal, Durga Puja is a great festival. All who live away from home return during the Puja days. Mothers reunite with their sons and daughters, and wives with their husbands.The woman of Bengal welcomes the Goddess with a mother's love and sends away the image on the last day, with every ceremony associated with a daughter's departure to her husband's home and with motherly tears in her eyes. This signifies the parting of Durga from Her beloved mother.

Devi fought with Bhandasura and his forces for nine days and nine nights. This Bhandasura had a wonderful birth and life. When Lord Shiva burnt Cupid with the fire of His "third eye", Sri Ganesha playfully moulded a figure out of the ashes, and the Lord breathed life into it! This was the terrible demon Bhandasura. He engaged himself in great penance and on account of it obtained a boon from Lord Shiva. With the help of that boon, he began harassing the worlds. The Divine Mother fought with him for nine nights (the demons have extraordinary strength during the night), and killed him on the evening of the tenth day, known as the Vijaya Dasami. The learning of any science is begun on this highly auspicious day. It was on this day that Arjuna worshipped Devi, before starting the battle against the Kauravas on the field of Kurukshetra.

Originally posted by: adi_0112

😭...How is the Pujo scene at where you live now?

Adi,the pujo is still celebrated in the bengali association.I don't go there.I sometimes go to Ramakakrishna mission.Nothing can beat the hoi choi of kolkata 😭

Originally posted by: adi_0112

😭...How is the Pujo scene at where you live now?

Every year Bengali Association in Singapore celebrates Durgapujo in large scale. This year specially all four days are falling on weekends so we are all getting ready for it. Durgapujo here is very homely and close to our heart. Every Astami din we go to Ramkrishna Mission for Anjali. Of course you cannt compare it with kolkata but we enjoy those four days very much.