HISTORY OF BENGALI CALENDER
The Bengali calendar or Bangabda is maintained in Bangladesh, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura.It is according to the Bhaskar (Sun) Era, pioneered by Emperor Akbar in 1584 AD.
The calendar was initially named as Tarikh-e-Elahi. The months of the Bengali year

THE NAMES OF THE MONTHS DERIVING FROM STARS—-
1. Baishakh     from the star Bishakha
2. Jiashthya     from Jaishtha
3. Ashara        from Shar
4. Sraban        from Srabani
5. Bhadra        from Bhadrapada
6. Ashwin        from Aswaini
7. Kartik          from Kartika
8. Agrahayon  from Agraihon
9. Poush         from Poushya
10. Magh        from Magha
11. Falgun      from Falguni, and
12. Chaitra     from Chitra stars.

Rakhi

The festival of Rakhi Purnima generally takes place in the month of August. It is celebrated with great joyand excitement all around India. Known as Raksha Bandhan in other parts of the country, it symbolises love, affection and feeling of brotherhood.

Rakhi, a colourful piece of art, with silken threads entwined together in an attractive manner and adorned with beads and golden threads are placed on the wrists of brothers for their good health, wealth, happiness and success. The brothers in return pledge to protect their sisters from danger. This festival establishes the bond of love and affection between the siblings.

Rakhi Bandhan is known as various names. Those are—Rakhi, Rakhari and Solono. The classic name Raksha Bandhan derived from principal ceremony of the day—tying of an ornamental cord round the wrist. The silk or cotton cord is called ‘Raksha’—intended to serve as an amulet guarding the wearer from all kind of evils. According to popular notion, it is distinctively a Brahmin festival, the privilege of observing it being confined to Brahmin alone. The notion is based on an ancient saying which enumerates four chief denominational festivals, corresponding to four chief divisions of Hindus. Thus this festival is for Brahmins, Dussehra for Kshatriyas, Diwali for Vaishyas and Holi for Shudras. But now all the sisters wait for this day to wish their dear brothers.

Origin______________________________________________
It is said that Rakhi Purnima originated when Indrani, wife of Lord Indra, prepared a talisman which she tied on her husband’s wrist on Sravan Purnima to win the battle against the demons. The power of the talisman made the Gods victorious.
Ever since, on Sravan Poornima day, the tradition of tying the thread began and it was believed that the persons would be blessed with health, wealth, happiness and victories.

History______________________________________________
This practice was prevalent among the Rajputs and our history is full of instances related to the significance of this tradition. At the time of war when the brave Rajput soldiers prepared to go to the battle field, the women folk followed the ritual of tying a thread around their wrist after applying a dash of vermilion powder on their forehead. This was considered a sign of good omen and the ladies believed that it would protect their men from the enemy’s blow and bring them victory.
The queen of Mewar, Maharani Karmavati, had to face the threat of Governor Bahadur Shah who laid seige on her kingdom. Helpless she sent a rakhi to the Mughal king, Humayun. The emperor who under normal circumstances would not have preferred to help a Rajput ruler, decided to protect her from the threat. Humayun reached Mewar chased Bahadur Shah and his men and restored the kingdom to the queen of Mewar.
There were instances during our freedom struggle when freedom fighters wore the tread around their wrists with pride. Rabindranath Tagore introduced this tradition in Santiniketan to reestablish the bond of love between all sects and religions.
Today Rakhi is tied on the wrists of soldiers by children and women all around the country filling the soldiers with the zest to protect them against the dangers of the enemy.

Janmasthmi........

 Mahalaya

An Abridged Audio/Visual Presentation of an All India Radio Recording - MAHISASURAMARDINI : An Oratario Invoking The Goddess Durga (Sanskrit Chants and Bengali Devotional Songs)  Pl. see Mamalaya in Our content Editor

voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra fill up the predawn hours of the day thus marking the beginning of " devipaksha " and the beginning of the count-down of Durga Puja. Sarat in its bloom, mingled with the festive spirit of Durga Puja reaches its pitch on the day of Mahalaya. From this day starts ‘Devipaksha’ and marks the end of ‘Pitri-paksha’.

‘Torpon’. This day bears immense significance for the Bengalis. It is according to the myths that Sree Rama hastily performed Durga Puja just before he set for Lanka to rescue Sita from Ravana.

According to Puranas, King Suratha, used to worship goddess Durga in spring. Thus Durga Puja was also known as Basanti Puja. But Rama preponed the Puja and worshiped Durga in autumn and that is why it is known as ‘Akal Bodhon’ or untimely worship. It was considered untimely as it is in the myths that puja was performed when the Gods and Goddesses were awake i.e. "Uttarayan" and was not held when the Gods and Goddesses rested ie."Dakshinayan".

It was on the day of Mahalaya,the beginning of "devipaksha",the Gods and Goddesses woke up to prepare themselves for Durga Puja. Akashvani Mahalaya: In the year 1930, Mahalaya was first broadcasted over the radio in Akashvani. The programme was organised by Premankur Aatorthi, Birendra Krishna Bhadra, Nripendra Krishna Mukhopadhya and Raichand Boral. It was broadcasted live then. Later it was recorded and played. Bengal’s cine star, Uttam Kumar had once recited Mahalaya while Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhya was the music director. But it was not popular among the mass and from then it has always been the voice of Birendra Kishna Bhadra enthralling the listeners in the pre-dawn hours of Mahalaya. The script was written by Bani Kumar, music was directed by Pankaj Kumar Mallik while Dijen Mukhopadhya, Manobendra Mukhopadhya (Tabo Achinta....), Sandhya Mukhopadhya, Arati Mukhopadhya, Utpala Sen, Shyamal Mitra and Supriti Ghosh (Bajlo tomar alor benu....) sang in their melodious voices.

An Abridged Audio/Visual Presentation of an All India Radio Recording - MAHISASURAMARDINI : An Oratario Invoking The Goddess Durga (Sanskrit Chants and Bengali Devotional Songs)  Pl. see Mamalaya in Our content Editor

Navratri,

Navratri, the festival of nine nights is devoted to the reverence of the Supreme or Goddess Durga who is the manifestation of the absolute power. Celebrated in the month of Ashwin these nine nights are devoted to the Mother Goddess who exists in many forms.
During Navratri the devout offer prayers and

seek her blessings to lead a peaceful and prosperous life. Goddess Durga, the ancient Navapatrika, the pagan Goddess who bestowed the peasants with a year of good harvest is the powerful Goddess who is the manifestation of the energies of Lord Bramha, Vishnu and Maheshwar appears in her fearsome form to slay the asura and reestablish peace and joy in the earth again.

Types of Navratris
There are five Navratris devoted to the worship of Shakti or Goddess Durga but only three Navratris are celebrated.

Sharad Navratri__________________
Sharad Navratri is the autumnal celebration of good harvest. Goddess Durga the symbol of Shakti is worshipped with great ardour. She slays the evil to establish peace and prosperity on the earth. This festival is celebrated almost throughout the country and especially the East.

Vasant Navratri__________________

Vasant Navratri is celebrated during spring or the beginning of summer. This Navratri is celebrated in North India. In Jammu, the Vaishno Devi temple observes Vasant Navratri.

Ashard Navratri_________
Ashard Navratri is celebrated in the month of July-August and is called Guhya Navaratri in Himachal Pradesh.

When is Navratri held

In the lunar month of Ashwin, Navratri, the festival of nine nights is held on the first day or pratipada of the fortnight. Generally held during the beginning of October, the dates of Navratri as of other festivals are determined according to the lunar calendar.

Significance of Nine Nights
Navaratri is divided into 3 parts each dedicated to 3 forms of Goddess Durga. On the first three days the Goddess is invoked as Devi Durga, the restorer of peace and prosperity by slaying the demon, Mahisasur. She is the mighty Goddess who destroys all the impurities, defects and

vices in an individual. The Goddess of power and energy, Durga is also worshipped in her other manifestations; Kumari, Parvati and Kali.

Ritual________________________
On the first day of Navaratri, a small bed of mud is prepared in the puja premises and barley seeds are sown on it. When the shoots are 3 to 5inches long on the 10th day, the seedlings are distributed among the devotees.

The next three days of Navaratri, devotees worship the Lakshmi form of the Goddess. Goddess Lakshmi, the bestower of spiritual wealth and immense prosperity is worshipped from the 4th to 6th day of Navaratri. On the fifth day, it is traditional to display books, light lamps and invoke the Goddess of knowledge and art, Goddess Saraswati.

Devi Brahmachaarini

Devi Chandraghanta

Devi Kushmaanda

Skand Devi

Devi Kaatyayini

Devi Kaalratri

Devi Maha Gauri

Devi Sidhidaarti

Lakshmi Puja

Lakshmi Puja are followed with utmost care and the Lakshmi Puja time schedule is also maintained well by the devoted. Delicious Bengali Recipes on Lakshmi Puja night are cooked and are then given to Goddess Laxmi as an offering.It is considered that Goddess Lakshmi visits homes of the devotees and replenishes them with wealth.

The Myth______________________________________________ Goddess Lakshmi is generally represented as a beautiful golden woman, usually sitting or standing on a lotus, her symbol. She is also known as Sri and attained importance as the consort of Vishnu.

Goddess Lakshmi has generally been thought to have existed first as the daughter of the sage Bhrigu and to have taken refuge in the ocean of milk during a period when the gods were exiled from their kingdom as a result of a rishi’s curse. She was reborn during the churning of the milk ocean as Lakshmi, one of the fourteen precious things.The Goddess of Wealth, emerged from the ocean forth fully grown

and radiant, bearing a lotus in her hand. Goddess Lakshmi was then married to Vishnu and has a clear share in Vishnu’s activities as preserver, and this reinforces her earlier character as goddess of fortune and giver of wealth.

Kali Puja is performed on a new moon night. As Kali is associated with dark rites and demon worship, the rituals performed are austere and offered with great devotion. Terrifying than Durga is Kali, the black earth-mother, whose rites involve sacrificial killings. Kali has dark skin and hideous tusked face, smeared with blood,the brow

bearing a third eye, like Shiva’s. She has four arms. She holds in one a weapon, in another the head of an asura, dripping blood; the other two are raised to bless the worshipers. Her body is naked except for her ‘ornaments’, which include necklace of snakes, skulls and heads of her sons and a belt from which hangs demon’s hands, which signify Karma or action.

are a part of Diwali. People gather to burn their fireworks thus enjoying the spectacular spectacles together. The night sky of the city becomes lighted with colourful fireworks. Children are seen burning their fireworks under the guidance of their parents. The whole atmosphere remains surcharged with fun and gaiety.

PREPARATION _____________________________
On the eve of Diwali children built small mud houses known as ‘Diwali Ghar’. These houses are painted, decorated with colours and lighted. Idols of Lakshmi and Ganesh are kept inside the ‘Diwali Ghar’. ‘Rangolies’ are created in front of the house and Puja is performed on the day of Diwali. Homemakers and shopkeepers clean their homes and shops and give a new look to their places of dwelling and business. New dresses are boughtand sweets are made to offer to the guests. Friends and relatives are welcomed and offered gifts.

Kali once gave free rein to her blind lust for destruction. On one occasion Shiva himself had to mingle among the demons whom she was slaughtering and allowed himself to be trampled underfoot in her dance of victory, as it was the only way to bring her to her senses and save the world from collapse. She acquired her name Kali meaning ‘conqueror of time’ as she subdued her husband by trampling over him. This way Devi the symbol of fertility conquered Shiva,the inexorable destroyer,who

Makarsankranti.....

Mahashivratri......

" DOLOTHSAVA / HOLI "

Winters have passed and can spring be far behind? Flowers are in full bloom and trees are clothed with bright, fresh leaves. Holi, the festival of colours is here.

HISTORY OF HOLI

It is a celebration of the triumph of the good, over the evil. According to the legend, ambitious king, Hiranyakashyap wished to be the most powerful king and wanted to be worshipped as the god. But his own son Prahalad, who was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, refused to obey his father. Hiranyakashyap decided to punish his son and asked for help from Holika, his sister. As Holika was immune to fire, the king asked Holika to sit at the center of a flaming pyre with Prahalad on her lap. The intention was to kill Prahalad. Yet Prahalad emerged unscathed by the fire while Holika was burnt to ashes. The good over the evil, prevailed. From Holika to Holi, the celebration marks the triumph of the good over the evil. Holi is also distinguished in certain regions ;

Saraswati puja

Goddess Saraswati is represented as a graceful woman in white, a symbol of purity and peace. She is the Goddess who signifies knowledge, learning, arts and culture. She is seen as the serene Goddess wearing a crescent moon on her brow riding a swan or seated on a lotus flower. Saraswati Puja is performed to pay allegiance to the Goddess of learning.

The Mythology_____________________

It is also believed that it was Goddess Saraswati who discovered ‘amrit’ in the Himalayas and brought it to the other gods. She was said to be identical with Viraj being created out of the substance of Purusha or Prajapati and thus is the instrument of creation. As Brahma’s wife, she provides the power to execute what Brahma conceives with his creative intelligence. She is the goddess of all the creative arts and in particular of poetry and music, learning and science.

The Celebration of Saraswati Puja______________

Saraswati puja is celebrated through out the country. The Goddess of knowledge is revered among the students and learned who strictly follow all the rituals to worship her. The festivities that accompany Saraswati puja is a part of the social celebrations. Young girls are seen in yellow saaries. Pushpanjali (offering of flowers along with mantras) are offered. Bright palash flowers are offerd that are a part of the worship.Young people enjoy the day with each other. Cultural programmes are staged at night. The Goddess who is the patron of music, culture and learning is revered by singers and musicians with great devotion.

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