Mahalaya · Before dawnThe dawn Maa is called home
On the new-moon night that ends Pitri Paksha, families offer tarpan to their ancestors beside the river. Before sunrise the Chandi recital begins, and Bengal wakes to the call that Maa Durga is coming home.
Chapter I · The tyrantMahishasura rules the three worlds
The buffalo demon Mahishasura won a boon that no man could kill him. Drunk on that power, he drove the gods out of heaven and turned the sky itself dark.
Chapter II · The radiance gathersEvery god gives a little light
Helpless, the gods went to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Their anger rose as blazing light, and the light of all the gods merged into one radiant woman: Devi Durga. Shiva gave her his trident, Vishnu his chakra, Indra his thunderbolt, Varuna a conch, Agni a spear, Vayu a bow, and Himavan her lion.
Chapter III · The battleNine nights of war
Mahishasura changed form again and again, as buffalo, lion and elephant. For nine nights the battle raged. On the tenth, Durga pressed him down and struck with her trident.
Chapter IV · Light over darknessThe sky clears
Peace returned to the heavens. The victory is remembered as Vijayadashami: good over evil, order over chaos, clarity over confusion.
Chapter V · Maa eloShe opens her eyes
On Mahalaya the sculptor paints the goddess's eyes in the ritual of chokkhu daan, and Devi Paksha begins. Maa arrives, and the season of celebration with her.
Story as told in the Devi Mahatmya. Customs and details vary by region and family.