Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Oct 11: Around 3,000 traditional Bengali drummers, known as dhakis, gathered at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on October 10 to create a Guinness World Record on the occasion of Mahalaya, marking the beginning of the countdown to Durga Puja.
The event also featured an ambitious drone show involving 3,000 drones in an attempt to set a world record. Videos of thousands of dhakis rehearsing together at Eden Gardens had drawn considerable attention on social media ahead of the programme.
Mahalaya marks the end of Pitru Paksha, the period dedicated to honouring ancestors, and the beginning of Devi Paksha, signalling the arrival of Goddess Durga. According to Bengali tradition, the goddess begins her journey from Mount Kailash to her earthly maternal home on this day, with Durga Puja celebrations following in the days ahead.
Dhakis are traditional drummers who play the large, barrel-shaped dhak. Their energetic rhythms are an integral part of Durga Puja celebrations across Bengal. The musical tradition, known as pujar badyo, accompanies important rituals such as Bodhon, the invocation of Goddess Durga, Sandhi Puja, evening prayers and Visarjan, the final immersion of the idol.
The tradition has been passed down through generations. Many dhakis, who also work as agricultural labourers during other parts of the year, travel to cities such as Kolkata during the festive season to earn additional income.
Their beats also provide the rhythm for Dhunuchi Nritya, a traditional devotional dance in which participants dance before Durga idols while holding smoking clay incense burners.
Mahalaya holds deep cultural and religious significance for Bengalis. It celebrates the invocation of Goddess Durga, also worshipped as Mahishasuramardini, the ten-armed warrior goddess who defeats the demon Mahishasura. The story symbolises the triumph of good over evil.
For many Bengalis, Durga is also regarded as a daughter returning to her maternal home, making the festival a time of family gatherings, celebrations and feasting.
Durga Puja has also played a significant role in Bengal’s social and cultural history. During the Indian freedom movement, community celebrations helped bring people together across neighbourhoods. Bengali literary figures such as Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam contributed to cultural interpretations connecting the goddess’s victory over evil with broader ideas of freedom and resistance to colonial rule.
Eden Gardens, the venue for the event, is one of India’s oldest and most iconic international cricket stadiums. Established in 1864, it is widely known as the ‘Mecca of Indian cricket’ and has hosted numerous historic matches. The stadium’s name is associated with the Eden sisters, Emily and Fanny, although accounts of its origin vary.
Durga Puja is recognised on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, with the inscription made in December 2021.