Mahalaya

Today brings back many memories...Mahalaya marks the beginning of  Durga Puja. The feeling in the air is of happiness, of excitement, of family love and more.

The childhood memories are very fresh, Ma and Baba waking up at 4 am and tuning the radio on. And then sitting together with tea and biscuits and listening to the timeless voice of Birendra Bhadra.

This has been a routine, a ritual of sorts for all these years. Even when we have stayed away from Ma and Baba, we were sure to receive a wake up call from them.

Tuning in to the radio, and in later years TV and let that recitation flow through almost the rest of the day is something we cannot do without.

This year has been little different, this year Ma is not with us on this day. We did not wake up at 4 am, or may be my brother did(even though he is not well). Baba who used to be the most excited did not bother this time, he is missing Ma for sure. We are not celebrating this year but the memories will stay.

Ya devi sarvabhuteshu Vishnu-mayeti sadbita
Namas tasyai, Namas tasyai, Namas tasyai namo namah.
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu buddhi - rupena samsthita, namas tasyai … … …
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu nidra - rupena samsthita, namas tasyai … … …
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu ksudha - rupena samsthita, namas tasyai … … …
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu chhaya - rupena samsthita, namas tasyai … … …
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu shakti - rupena samsthita, namas tasyai … … …
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu trisna - rupena samsthita, namas tasyai … … …
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu ksanti - rupena samsthita, namas tasyai … … …
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu lajja - rupena samsthita, namas tasyai … … …
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu shanti - rupena samsthita, namas tasyai … … …
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu Sraddha - rupena samsthita, namas tasyai … … …
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu kanti - rupena samsthita, namas tasyai … … …
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu lakshmi - rupena samsthita, namas tasya