Bel-tala: where Ma rests on the evening of Shashthi
Why Durga Puja begins at the foot of a bel tree. The story of Ma's long journey to her father's home, the night she rests with her children, and how our family welcomes her on Maha Shashthi.
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Written byRakesh Chatterjee
Ma's way to her father's home is a long one. According to the story told in Bengal, as the evening of Shashthi comes down, she looks around, tired, with her sons and daughters beside her, and decides they cannot go on tonight. "Let us rest under the bel tree," she says. "If we pass the night here, I shall take you to your maternal uncle's house first thing tomorrow morning."
The children are so happy to be going to their mamarbari that they do not mind spending the night under a tree. That is why, in the evening of Maha Shashthi, we say that Ma arrives at the Bel-tala, and why the first puja of Durga Puja is done there.
Welcoming Ma
The family gathers at the Bel-tala at dusk. The purohit performs the puja while the family sits around him. You can read about the Bodhon and Adhibas rituals of the evening on our rituals page.
Shashthi evening: the purohit and the family gathered for the Bel-tala puja.
A guest must never lack anything
Ma has come a long way, and her welcome has to be perfect. So while the puja goes on, the other half of the house is already busy with the preparations for her bhog. It is a serious responsibility, and everyone shares it. Nothing may be missing in the care we take of her.
While the puja goes on, the women of the family get Ma's bhog ready.
By the next morning she is in the Thakur Dalan, and the Kola Bou has gone down to the water for her bath. The Puja has begun.
On Vijaya Dashami, Ma Durga prepares to return to Kailash, where Shiva is waiting. The story of Nandi and Bhringi, the farewell at our family Puja in Ruppur, and the wish every family says aloud: asche bochor abar esho.
A first-hand account of the Durga Puja at our home in Ruppur, from idol making and Mahalaya to Sandhi Puja, Kumari Puja, Darpan Visarjan and the traditions unique to the Chattopadhyay family.
