It says “Behind every successful man there is a woman” – nothing new for Hindu Civilisation which has a eternal flavour of worshipping women power – Mother Goddesses.

In our life, we can see women in different forms. Sometimes she is a naughty daughter, sometime a caring mother, a inspiring lover – a few also witnesses her enormous power to save her beloveds from all the evils.
Thus, with all these dimensions, she becomes indispensable part of our life.

Most likely, the devotees considers the eternal Mother Goddess in different forms relating to the situations of life. Somewhere Mother goddess is the source of power, sometime she gives and looks after the wealth. For the knowledge, devotees think of another form. And all these sums up to Nine forms of  Mother Goddess according to the authentic documentation for worshipping – Brihonnondikeshwar Puran, Devi Puran & Kalika Puran.

The NaboPatrika symbolizes these nine forms of Devi Durga and worshipped along with, from MahaSaptami. Colloquially, the NaboPatrika is termed as KalaBou. It is composed of nine different saplings and bound with the creeper of Shet Aparajita, red string and Alta (a red colored liquid used to decorate feet). Finally, it is covered with a red bordered white saree and placed on the same platform where the idol of Devi Durga is worshipped.
Each of the nine saplings symbolizes one form of Devi Durga :

1). Ramva symbolizes Devi Bromhanee.

2). Kalo Kochu is for the form of Devi Kalika.

3). Haridra represents Devi Durga.

4). Jayanti symbolizes Devi Kartikee according to Kalika Puran and Brihonnondikeshwar Puran. As per Devi Puran, it is the form of Devi Koumaree.

5). Billo represents Devi Shiva.

6). Darrim is for the form of Devi Raktodontika.

7). Ashok represents Devi Shokrohita.

8). Maan Kochu is for Devi Chaamunda.

9). Dhanno symbolizes Devi Laxmi.

Apart from these, there are Sixty Four names of Mother Goddess. Those names are collectively termed as Choushotti Jogini..
Following are a few of  64 names according to Devi Puran. :

1. Bromhanee  2. Chandaa  3. Roudree  4. Gouree

5. Indranee  6. Koumaree  7. Bhoirobee  8. Durga

9. Shailaputree 10. Chandika  11. ChandaGhanta.  12. Kushmanda

13. SkandaMata 14. Katyaaonee 15. Kaalraatri 16. Mahagouree……. Etc.

Ref. PUROHIT DAPAN by Pandit Surendra Mohan Bhattacharya, 38 th Edition
Acknowledgement : Shree Ranjit Kr. Bose

“………Akaashbaani Kolkata aaj Mahalaya……..Shuru hochche bisesh provatee odhibeshan… Mahishasura mardini……..” – For nearly six decades, the baritone voice of the radio announcer made almost all the Bengalis wake up at the pre dawn hour on the day of Mahalaya to join with late Shree Birendra Krishna Bhadra to the unique celebration of sending invitation to the mother goddess Devi Durga…… “Jaago tumi Jaago…..”

Mahalaya is the day of inviting Devi Durga to save from all the demons of bad patches in this mortal world……as well as to get the blessing for the best in life in all aspects – “…… Rupan Dehi Jayon Dehi Jasho Dehi……”

Mahalaya flags off the biggest festival of Bengal, DurgaPuja, the festival for homecoming. It is Amabashya ( No-Moon day) of the month of Ashwin of Bengali calendar.

The fortnight prior to this day is called PitreePaksha. The word Pitree means father or ancestor and Paksha means fortnight. Religiously, This is the time period of every year when Bengalis pay homage to their passed away ancestors. And the process of paying homage is called Tarpan. Though Tarpan can be performed throughout this fortnight, most of the people choose to perform it especially on the day of Mahalaya .

Tarpan is performed by standing in the waist deep water of the holy river Ganges and offering the holy water to the passed away ancestors while chanting the Vedic Mantras.

According to Saam Veda, only Brahmins can perform Tarpan. But Yajur Veda empowers other casts also to perform Tarpan with a few difference.

Apart from the religious point of view, it is a nice ritual for recapitulating the loving memories of the passed away beloveds, at the starting of the festive fortnight. The fortnight starting from the Mahalaya is called Devi Paksha where Devi indicates to Devi Durga.

Ref : PUROHIT DARPON by Pandit Surendra Mohan Bhattacharya, 38 th Edition.

Acknowledgement : Shree Ranjit Kr. Bose.