Since early morning people in large numbers had gathered at various Ganga Ghats across Bengal to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion of Mohalaya which also signifies the end of `Pitri Paksha` or as commonly called `shradh` and beginning of `Debi Paksha`. It is believed that Goddess Durga is coming to earth with her children.

 The Durga Puja at this time of the year is also called `Akal Bodhon` (untimely). The word Akaal means untimed (kaal=time and a=not) and the word Bodhan means worship or invocation. As the story goes, Lord Rama wanted the blessings of Devi Durga to defeat the demons. Durga was presented with various weapons by Gods and Goddesses.  

Mohalaya also holds a `nostalgic` significance for average Bengali household which gear-up for the biggest festival, the Durga Puja. Mohalaya and Birendra Krishna Bhadra have become synonym. Since decades Bengalies wake up early in the morning and tune-in to All India Radio (AIR) to listen to the `Mahishasur Mardini` by Birendra Krishna Bhadra. 

The iconic 90-minute musical programme "Mahishasura Mardini" was first composed in 1931 under the direction of great musician Pankaj Kumar Mullick and was scripted by Bani Kumar. The programme which is a combination of a narration, hymns and Bengali devotional songs feature eminent singers like Manabendra Mukhopadhyay, Arati Mukhopadhyay, Supriti Ghosh, Bimal Bhusan, Utpala Sen, Tarun Banerjee, Krishna Dasgupta, Dwijen Mukhopadhyay, Pratima Banerjee, Shyamal Mitra, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, Sumitra Sen, Ashima Bhattacharya, Shipra Bose and Pankaj Mallik. Earlier "Mahishasura Mardini" was broadcast live on Mohalaya and was only recorded in 1966, after which the recorded version was played everywhere. 

Over the years, a few people had tried to record the programme adding a personal touch from time to time including Mahanayak Uttam Kumar but failed to evoke a response among the audience who have become used to Birendra Krishna Bhadra, it has become like a gospel. Earlier, the programme was broadcast live from AIR station then located at 1 Garstin Place in Kolkata then Calcutta. There are many interesting anecdotes attached to the programme. The entire team comprising of singers, musicians would take bath in the before broadcasting the programme. 

Listening to the programme and the preparation holds many nostalgic memories which can be better expressed by someone who had seen the era of radio. They would tell you with excitement how they would put an alarm to wake up at 4 am and would struggle to stay awake to listen to the programme. "Old memories, you see, we used to wake up early and then tune in to the radio sets. Indeed it was a festive affair", said 85-year old Jagannath Bose in Salt Lake, Kokata. In many households, members would wear clean clothes before settling down to listen to the Mohalaya. Today, the nostalgia remains the same as young people make it a point to listen to the iconic programme but the mode has changed instead of listening to AIR, they now either play CDs or tune to live streaming on web. "I agree listening to radio is nostalgic but waking up at 4 am not possible always hence we tune to web", said Sampriti Ray who works at a MNC in Camac Street, Kolkata.    

 Even after so many decades, the nostalgia of `Mahishasur Mardini` by Birendra Krishna Bhadra continues and will continue till eternity.

If You Like This Story, Support NYOOOZ

NYOOOZ SUPPORTER

₹ 10 - ₹ 1000

NYOOOZ FRIEND

₹ 2000 - ₹ 5000

Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.