Let’s understand more about this and see what its benefits and rituals include.

Mahalya date 2024: 2nd October 2024

Amavasya tithi begins: 09:39 Pm on 1st October 2024

Amavasya tithi ends: 12:18 Am on 3rd October 2024

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Mahalaya Amavasya: Meaning

Mahalaya Amavasya is an auspicious day to honor our ancestors and the goddess Durga. This celebration happens on the last day of Pitra Paksha, which is when Dussehra or Durga Puja begins. This day is observed on the new moon day during Ashwin month.

On this day, people generally offer tarpan and shraddha rituals to the departed souls of their ancestors so that they will receive moksha from the world. If someone dies during Chaturdashi, then this ritual is important to ask for forgiveness and eliminate Pitra Dosh.  

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Mahalaya Amavasya 2024: Significance in Hinduism

Mahalaya 2024 is very important in Hinduism. It begins a period of celebration of Maa Durga’s divine quality. Mahalaya Amavasya is the best time to remind ourselves of the goddess's strength and take her blessings.

Also, during Mahalaya, people offer religious rituals to praise the goddess. This is also the best day to connect with your ancestors, who come to earth to accept our sraddha offerings.

On Mahalaya, we ask our ancestors to give us helpful advice and keep us safe on Earth. We thank them for everything they gave us and pray for their peace. Some people wake up to celebrate this day, showing gratitude and remembrance. This is the time to end the month of mourning and begin many festivities for Durga puja.

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Mahalaya Amavasya: Rituals

People perform many rituals during this auspicious time. These rituals help us to connect with our origin and take protection and blessings from gods and ancestors.

1. Preparation for Durga puja

• Start planning to celebrate this festival dedicated to Maa Durga as Durga Puja 2024 Mahalya marks the beginning of Devipaksh.
• People welcome goddesses to their homes and bring statues of the goddess Durga to their homes and societies during this time.  
• After this, they decorate seats for her where she resides in the upcoming days.
• People also wake up early to hear Mahishasur Mardini’s telecast on the radio, which is generally observed in Kolkata.
• People also sing hymns and praises for Maa Durga. Chandi Path is the only hymn that protects you from negativity in your life.

2. Pitru Tarpan

• Tarpan is the ritual for ancestors to receive moksha on holy rivers like the Ganga.
• During this ritual, people offer milk, black sesame seeds, honey, uncooked rice, and ghee to ancestors.
• People also do Pind Daan to take peace and mukti for those who passed away.

3. Chokkhu Daan

• Chokkhu Daan is special Mahalaya Amavasya ritual. This is a day when artisans draw eyes on the statues of Maa Durga.
• In Bengali, "Chokkhu" means eyes, and "Daan" means to give. Therefore, this is a crucial step in creating statues of the goddess.
• People believe that drawing the eyes of Maa Durga’s statue gives her vision. So, she can see people’s sufferings, understand their pain, and bless them to give fortune into their lives.

4. Kola Bou

• Kola Bou is another ritual of Maa Durga Puja Mahalaya. People do it to pray for a good harvest.
• This is a Bengali tradition that includes marrying a banana tree.
• People decorate banana trees with Sindur and drape traditional Bengali sarees around them.
• After this, the place is next to Lord Ganesha as his bride.
• People also bathe trees in holy rivers and do puja with sandalwood and flowers.

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Mahalaya 2024: Stories

Mahalaya 2024 has different stories that show the festival’s history. Because of diverse cultures and beliefs, people passed on many folk tales about the meaning and importance of Maa Durga Mahalya.

1. Maa Durga’s arrival on earth

According to mythology, maa Durga lived in Kailash Parvat. Goddess Parvati is an avatar of Maa Durga, the wife of Lord Shiva. During Mahalya, she visits Earth for her believers and it is believed to be her maternal home.

She travels to earth in 7 days, with her children lord Ganesha and Kartikeya. Upon her arrival, Durga puja or Navratri begins to celebrate her stay on earth.

2. Story of Karna

We pray for our ancestors. According to Mahabharata, Karn went to heaven after death. However, in heaven Lord Yama gave him jewels and money to eat and he had no idea what to do with that. When he asked Lord Yama, he answered that you had only donated wealth to those in need during his time on earth.

So, he sent him back to Earth for some time to fix this. He donated food to those in need and his ancestors during this time. So, after this, people began to offer food to their ancestors on Mahalaya Amavasya.

3. The war between Gods and demons

The war between gods and demons led to the loss of lives. According to mythology, a war was fought between 2, which lasted until Amavasya. So, on Mahalaya Amavasya, people started praying for the lost lives during the war.

After this, they started praying for their ancestors as well as family members who lost their lives.

4. Story of Mahishasur Mardini

Demon Mahishasur got a blessing from Lord Brahma, which made him undefeatable. Only women could kill him, so he was creating chaos in the universe, so the Gods asked Lord Vishnu to stop him.

So, Tridev joined forces to form Maa Durga. She had the power of Lord Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma. So, she defeated Mahishasur, which gave her the name Mahishasur Mardini. People in India celebrate Mahalaya and Durga Puja to celebrate this victory.

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