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Mahalaya Amavasya

Devi as Mahishasuramardini — descending to slay Mahishasura

Shakta

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Mahalaya — the most spiritually charged Amavasya in the Bengali Shakta calendar. Marks the closing of 15-day Pitru Paksha (ancestor worship) and the opening of Devi Paksha (the 15 days leading to Sharadiya Navaratri / Bengali Durga Puja). At dawn, every Bengali home tunes in to Birendra Krishna Bhadra's iconic Mahishasura Mardini stotra recital — broadcast unchanged on All India Radio since 1931.

Dates 2026–2027

October 10, 2026September 29, 2027

Mantra

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

Ya devi sarva-bhuteshu matri-rupena samsthita | Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah ||

To the Devi who abides in all beings as Mother — salutations, salutations, salutations to her, again and again. (Devi Mahatmyam — invoking Maa as the universal Mother on the day she descends.)

How to recite

Wake before sunrise (Brahma-muhurta) and listen to the Mahishasura Mardini stotra recital. Perform the closing tarpan of Pitru Paksha — offer til, kusha grass, and water-libations to three generations of departed ancestors at a riverbank or at home. After tarpan, set up the Devi altar with kalash and red hibiscus to formally invite Maa Durga for the coming Sharadiya Navaratri (Devi Paksha begins). Recite the Devi Mahatmyam Chapter 1 (the appearance of Mahishasuramardini).

Benefits

Mahalaya Amavasya is the spiritual hinge of the Bengali Shakta year — the closing of Pitru Paksha (15 days of ancestor worship) and the opening of Devi Paksha (15 days leading to Maha Shashti / Bodhon, the start of Durga Puja). Tarpan on this day is held to release ancestors to higher lokas through Maa's grace. Listening to Birendra Krishna Bhadra's 1931 broadcast of Mahishasura Mardini at dawn is a sacred ritual followed by every Bengali household.

✦ Special Note

Tarpan at the Hooghly ghats in Kolkata, the Sangam at Prayagraj, and Sarayu at Ayodhya are the most sacred. The Sharadiya Navaratri begins the very next day with Pratipada (Day 1). Dates per the Gupta Press Panjika (guptapresspanjika.org — the standard Bengali almanac since 1869), following its Amanta (Bengali) lunar convention with months ending on Amavasya (new moon), as used for Kali worship and dark-fortnight rituals; cross-checked against astronomical tithi computation.

Foods Allowed

Niramish bhog: khichuri, labra, payesh, suktoTil (sesame) for tarpan and ancestor offeringsBengali sweets: sandesh, naru, rasgulla, mishti doiCoconut, fresh fruits — banana, pomegranate, mangoMilk, curd, ghee, panchamritWhite rice and fragrant gobindobhog rice for ancestor naivedyaSendha namak for fasting members

Foods to Avoid

Onion, garlic, brinjal — strictlyMeat, fish, eggs, alcohol — pitru offerings are pure niramishBitter or sour foods on this dayAnything not first offered to ancestors and to Maa

Meal Idea

Niramish khichuri-labra-payesh as the noon bhog (offered first to ancestors, then to Maa, then taken as prasad); til-laddu for evening; sandesh and coconut as Devi offerings.

🪔 Aarti

Jai Ambe Gauri

जय अम्बे गौरी, मैया जय श्यामा गौरी । तुमको निशिदिन ध्यावत, हरि ब्रह्मा शिवरी ॥ मांग सिंदूर विराजत, टीको मृगमद को । उज्जवल से दोऊ नैना, चंद्रवदन नीको ॥ कनक समान कलेवर, रक्ताम्बर राजे । रक्त पुष्प गल माला, कंठन पर साजे ॥ केहरि वाहन राजत, खड्ग खप्पर धारी । सुर-नर-मुनिजन सेवत, तिनके दुखहारी ॥ कानन कुंडल शोभित, नासाग्रे मोती । कोटिक चंद्र दिवाकर, राजत सम ज्योति ॥ शुम्भ-निशुम्भ बिदारे, महिषासुर घाती । धूम्र विलोचन नैना, निशिदिन मदमाती ॥ चंड-मुंड संहारे, शोणित बीज हरे । मधु-कैटभ दोऊ मारे, सुर भयहीन करे ॥ ब्रह्माणी रुद्राणी तुम, कमला रानी । अगम निगम बखानी, तुम शिव पटरानी ॥ चौंसठ योगिनी मंगल गावत, नृत्य करत भैरूं । बाजत ताल मृदंगा, अरु बाजत डमरू ॥ तुम ही जग की माता, तुम ही हो भरता । भक्तन की दुख हर्ता, सुख सम्पत्ति करता ॥ भुजा चार अति शोभित, वरमुद्रा धारी । मनवांछित फल पावत, सेवत नर नारी ॥ कंचन थाल विराजत, अगर कपूर बाती । श्री अम्बेजी की आरती जो कोई नर गावे, कहत शिवानंद स्वामी सुख-सम्पत्ति पावे ॥

Ambe Tu Hai Jagdambe Kali

अम्बे तू है जगदम्बे काली, जय दुर्गे खप्पर वाली । तेरे ही गुण गावें भारती, ओ मैया हम सब उतारें तेरी आरती ॥ तेरे भक्त जनों पर माता, भीड़ पड़ी है भारी । दानव दल पर टूट पड़ो मां, करके सिंह सवारी ॥ सौ-सौ सिंहों से बलशाली, है अष्ट भुजाओं वाली, दुष्टों को तू ही ललकारती ॥ मां-बेटे का है इस जग में, बड़ा ही निर्मल नाता । पूत-कपूत सुने हैं पर ना, माता सुनी कुमाता ॥ सब पे करुणा दर्शाने वाली, अमृत बरसाने वाली, दुखियों के दुखड़े निवारती ॥ नहीं मांगते धन और दौलत, ना चांदी ना सोना । हम तो मांगे तेरे चरणों में, एक छोटा सा कोना ॥ सबकी बिगड़ी बनाने वाली, लाज बचाने वाली, सतियों के सत को संवारती ॥ चरण शरण में खड़े तुम्हारी, ले पूजा की थाली । वरद हस्त सर पर रख दो मां, संकट हरने वाली ॥ मां भर दो भक्ति रस प्याली, अष्ट भुजाओं वाली, भक्तों के कारज तू ही सारती ॥

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