The Early Morning Experience Of Mahalaya
-The beauty of Mahalaya lies in its heritage.
Passing down from generation to generation like a priceless treasure, the tradition of Mahalaya is a sheer gift that stays in every Bong heart till the last breath and may be beyond. Some families flock around the radio to listen to the famous voice of Birendra Kishna Bhadra over a cup of hot tea; some prefer to cherish the trail of memories, thoughts and emotions evoked by the regal notes of Mahalaya in solitude. But the vibrations of the notes from every household radio, wafting through the silent 4 o’clock morning and joining with the tea stall owner’s radio nested miles away, is a serial feeling.
Back in childhood, Mahalaya was all about sleeping early, setting the alarm at four and checking if the radio was working fine. Parents’ tireless efforts to keep their little ones awake, make them listen to Mohishashur Mordini while, kids falling asleep and getting up in between with a subtle spark of happiness, that Durga Puja is around the corner. But in this whole journey of parents’ effort to imbibe the essence of those tracks of Mahalaya and kids falling asleep, little did anyone know that someday, this very ritual of tuning to the radio at four on this auspicious day will be a yearly ritual. And once you are attached to this tradition, there is no turning back.
These kids will carry this attachment even when away from their home town, when their parents are gone and when the radio frequency does not play Mahalaya.
So, no matter which part of the world you are in, if there is a Bengali neighbourhood in the vicinity, there is a fair chance of you hearing the faint notes of Mahalaya if you lay your ears while passing by. And no matter how many generations passes by, those bylanes of Kolkata will resonate with the vibrations of Mahalaya on this very day at four in the morning. The radio might be replaced with mobile phones and the loud resonance of the tracks might get a little faint with time but it will never die.
Back in the days, I have spent most of Mahalaya sleeping away in glory, enjoying the subtle sweetness of the fresh autumn chill, snuggling up to my grandparents for the warm, comforting hug while them struggling to keep me awake. I even remember them calling me early moring every year and holding the mobile phone close to the radio speaker, when I was away from them for my job in a different city. Honestly I used to get a little annoyed with them back then for hindering my sleep cycle but…
this year when I am alone, trying to find the comfort of their warmth in a solitary blanket, and struggling to hold on to them through old memories, I understood the real reason behind those chants.
I woke up at four without any alarm and tuned-in to the Mahalaya track on Youtube seamlessly, and within no time I felt their presence. The aura of my grand parents encompassed my home and I felt their touch and the comfort of their warm hug.
My heart felt content but my eyes were cloudy, I couldn’t stop my tears as I could feel them crying with me and that was a feeling beyond explanation.
It is at that time when it hit me, parents don't forcefully teach us these rituals just to imbibe tradition, culture and values in us; it is to create as many memories as possible to return to and cherish them in lonely, hard times. It makes sailing through life a little easy.
In this world of uncertainty, loneliness and hurdles, when your heart races with those familiar tracks of Mahalaya and reminds you of your lovely times spent with family, it reignites the trust that you are not alone. Your belief in the universe is reaffirmed, and you can feel the presence of your departed loved ones in a subtle sweet way. It gives you the strength to survive alone and be happy.
Subho Mahalaya to you from your Banjara Girl!
