Rapid Fire
Mahalaya
- 04 Oct 2024
- 1 min read
Recently, the Prime Minister wished the Bengali community on the occasion of Mahalaya that marks the beginning of Durga Puja festivities.
- Mahalaya marks the day when Goddess Durga is believed to descend to Earth and vanquish the demon king Mahishasura, symbolising the triumph of good over evil.
- On this day, artisans paint the eyes of Goddess Durga, a moment also known as the ‘Chokkhu daan’ (granting the eyes to the Goddess).
- It marks the end of ‘Pitru Paksha’ and the beginning of ‘Debi Paksha’ (the era of the Goddess Durga).
- Pitru Paksha is a 16-day period during which Hindus perform rituals to pay homage to their forefathers.
- Durga Puja in Kolkata has been inscribed on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity.
- It is the first festival in Asia to achieve recognition as UNESCO ICH of Humanity.
Read More: Durga Puja on UNESCO's ICH
