বাজলো তোমার আলোর বেনু

Agomoni – The beginning of Debi -Paksha

While Covid has deeply toned down the grandness of this epic festivity making it bit unusual but otherwise also it would have been not normal as celebrated over the years. Indeed, this year is different in every aspect.

Normally what happens is Seven days before the festival, the goddess is beckoned to descend on earth through an invocation called the Mahalaya. However, this year the much-awaited festival is been held a month after Mahalaya. According to Bisuddha Siddhanta and Suryasiddhanta, both schools of almanacs, the unusual gap between Mahalaya and Durga Puja is because of a phenomenon called ‘mala mash’ or a lunar month that has two new moons. During this month, no auspicious festival or rituals can be observed. and thus, Durga Puja is been held after it is over. So, the ‘Devi Paksha’ or the auspicious period begins today on October 17 with ‘Pratipad’ or the first day of Sharadiya Navratri.