Mahalaya Amavasya or Pitru Amavasyais observed on No Moon day during Mahalaya Paksha shraddh. Mahalaya Amavasya 2010 date is October 7, 2010. Pitru Amavasya falls during Ashwin month as per North Indian calendar followed in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttaranchal. Mahalaya Amavas is the last day of Pitru Paksha, the fortnight dedicated to offer Shraddh rituals to dead ancestors.
On Mahalaya Amavasya, Brahmin santarpana is performed on behalf of dead ancestors to provide them peace in their world. Hindus believe that Shraddh ritual performed on this Amavasya makes their dead ancestors free from all the sins they have committed when they were alive and provides them salvation.
The enchanting voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra fill up the predawn hours of the day thus marking the beginning of "Devipaksha'' and the beginning of the countdown of Durga Puja. Mahalaya is a kind of invocation or invitation to the mother goddess to descend on earth: "Jago Tumi Jago''. The history of the Mahalaya broadcast is interesting. The concept started in the early 1930s, when AIR played the early morning programme, Mahisasura Mardini or The Annihilation of the Demon.
The same programme has been running thereafter, and is a huge favourite with Bengalis. It's a beautiful audio montage of recitation from the scriptural verses of Chandi Kavya, Bengali devotional songs, classical music and a dash of acoustic melodrama. The programme has also been translated into Hindi, set to similar orchestration and is broadcast at the same time for a pan-Indian audience.
Birendra Krishna Bhadra, the legendary narrator, recites the holy verses and tells the story of the descent of Durga to earth, in his inimitable style. Bhadra has long passed away, but his recorded voice still forms the core of the Mahalaya programme. In a sonorous, reverberating voice, Bhadra renders the Mahalaya recital for two thrilling hours, mesmerising every household. As the recital begins, the serene morning air resonates with the long drawn sound of the sacred conch shell, immediately followed by a chorus of invocation, melodiously setting the stage for the recitation of the Chandi Mantra. The story element speaks of the increasing cruelty of the demon king Mahisasura against the gods. Unable to tolerate his tyranny the gods plead with Vishnu to annihilate the demon.
The Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara (Shiva) come together to create a powerful female form with ten arms Goddess Durga or 'Mahamaya', the Mother of the Universe who embodies the primeval source of all power. The gods then bestow upon this Supreme creation their individual blessings and weapons. Armed like a warrior, the goddess rides a lion to battle with the Mahisasura. After a fierce combat the 'Durgatinashini' is able to slay the 'Asura' king with her trident. Heaven and earth rejoice at her victory. Finally, the mantra narration ends with the refrain of mankind's supplication before this Supreme Power. For many Durga Puja committees in the city, the Mahalaya is the signal for the festivities to start.
Many arrange cultural programmes and community events to mark the days to Mahasaptami, when the Puja starts off in earnest. For instance, Tamal Dutta of Nivedita Enclave puja samiti says that this year, the programmes are starting off Friday, with a musical event
