Shubho Mahalaya 2025: When is Mahalaya? Check Date, Time, Significance & Puja Vidhi

Shubho Mahalaya 2025: When is Mahalaya? Check Date, Time, Significance & Puja Vidhi

Mahalaya is considered one of the most sacred days in the Hindu calendar. It symbolises the victory of good over evil, as devotees prepare for the arrival of Goddess Durga. According to tradition, ancestors are honoured through Shradh and Tarpan rituals on this day, believed to bring peace to their souls and blessings for the family.

Another important tradition is listening to the famous “Mahishasura Mardini” recital at dawn. This devotional broadcast narrates the story of Maa Durga’s victory over Mahishasura, filling devotees with spiritual energy as Durga Puja approaches.

On Mahalaya morning, devotees rise before sunrise and perform Tarpan rituals along riverbanks or sacred water bodies. Offerings of sesame seeds, water, and prayers are made to seek ancestral blessings. Families also gather for Shradh ceremonies, marking the end of the mourning period.

Another unique ritual is the Chokkhu Daan, where idol-makers paint the eyes of Goddess Durga idols. This act is considered sacred as it symbolically infuses life into the idol, transforming Maa Durga’s form from Mrinmayi (earthly clay form) to Chinmayi (divine form).

In Bengal, Mahalaya is celebrated with devotion and joy, marking the official countdown to Durga Puja. Homes are cleaned, sweets are prepared, and temples conduct special prayers and cultural programmes like Chandi Path recitations and devotional dramas.

Mahalaya thus bridges spiritual rituals with cultural traditions, bringing families and communities together in devotion and celebration.