Maha Saptami

Held on : 2nd October

Maha Saptami is a holy day amongst the 9-10 day festival of Durga Puja. Maha Saptami is the 7th day of the waxing phase of moon (Shukla Paksha) in Aashin, or Aswhina month during Durga Puja. ‘Maha’ means ‘Great’ and ‘Saptami’ means the ‘Seventh Day’, thus the name Maha Saptami. There are lot of rituals performed on this day which are filled with devotion towards Maa Durga. It is a day of prayers, devotional music, rituals and devotion filled celebrations for a large number of people across South Asia, especially in West Bengal.

History

The seventh day has a legend behind it. Lord Rama was preparing for an epic battle against the ‘King of Demons’, Ravana who had abducted his wife ‘Sita’. Before starting the war, Rama prayed to Devi Durga for her blessings. It was a tradition that Goddess Durga had to be worshipped with one hundred ‘Neelkamal’ (blue lotus flowers) but Lord Rama could arrange only ninety nine of them. Out of desperation and intense desire to please the goddess, Lord Rama decided to take out one of his blue coloured eyes (resembling blue lotus) and offered it to Goddess Durga. Durga was pleased with Ram’s devotion; she appeared before Ram and blessed him. Lord Rama's worship of Goddess Durga took place during the autumn month of Ashwin as per Bengali calendar and the battle started on the saptami i.e. the 7th day. The battle was won by Ram with the blessings of the Goddess of Power.

Traditions and Events

Kolabou – Kolabou is the popular name of Lord Ganesh's wife, even though it is considered that she has no relationship with Ganesh. During dawn, just as the first light of sun descents on earth, Kolabau, Kola Bou or Nabapatrika rituals are performed. The ritual is actually an ancient practice, practised by peasants for prosperous harvest. In the absence of idols, they worshipped Nature i.e. certain plants and trees. Gradually, it became a part of Durga Puja tradition. Since nine plants are involved in the ritual, it is known as ‘Nabapatrika; meaning ‘Composed of Nine parts of Plants’. These 9 plants collectively signify Navadurga Goddesses, nine aspects of Goddess Durga.

The 9 Plants comprising Nabapatrika are:

• Bel Ghaach - Wood Apple Tree. It denotes Lord Shiva.
• Dhan Gaach - Rice Plant. It represents Goddess Lakshmi.
• Daalim Gaach - Pomegranate Tree. It indicates Raktadantika.
• Halud Gaach - Turmeric Plant. It represents Goddess Durga.
• Kola Gaach - Banana Plant. It represents Goddess Brahmani.
• Kochu Gaach / Kachvi / Kacci - Colacassia Plant. It represents Goddess Kalika.
• Maankochu - Arum Plant. It represents Chamunda.
• Ashoka Tree symbolises Sokharita.
• Jayanti Tree. It denotes Kartiki.

The stem of the banana tree is draped in a new red and white saree and the leaves are left uncovered. This banana plantain structure signifies the form of Durga. It is offered a pre-dawn bath in the river amidst Dhaak (drum) beats and conch symphonies. The ritual is performed on the ghats (banks) of a river or pond. The idol of Goddess Durga is not taken to the pond instead life is symbolically transferred from water to plantain tree. Vermillion is applied on the leaves. Then it is brought back in a procession and is placed near Lord Ganesha in the Durga Puja Pandal (tent).

Morning Prayer - The morning of Maha Saptami (seventh day) starts with worship of the Mother Shakti (Durga). The ceremony of Anjali is performed wherein a devotee offers prayers and flowers on an empty stomach, amidst the chanting of mantras to the Goddess. After the completion ‘Prasad’ (sweet meat) is served to devotees.

Bhog and Pandals – Bhog here refers to the ‘Lunch Time Meal’. Various traditional dishes are prepared and distributed amongst the devotees. Pandals are tents where a stage is constructed and decorated to place the idols of the goddess. People of the community perform prayers here. These pandals are colourful, decorated with lights. People gather in these to celebrate this pious occasion. The atmosphere on this day is filled with the sounds of the Dhaki drums and chants. Till the evenings the streets gets thronged with people moving towards the Pandals for Puja.

Triratra Vrata - In South India, Maha Sapthami has a great significance as it is the beginning of Triratra Vrata (fast) which is performed by almost all families in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. In Kanakadurga Temple of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, Goddess Durga is decorated and worshiped as Goddess Mahalakshmi. On Seventh day of Durga Navratri, Goddess Kalaratri or Kaaldatri Mata is worshipped in some other regions.

Alternate Names - Durga Saptami, Devi Saptami, Durga Puja Saptami, Saptami.

Holiday Status – It is mostly a regional holiday in states where it is the most popular.