For Bengalis, Durga Puja truly begins with the narration of Mahishasura Mardini In Bengali Radio on Mahalaya by Birendra Krishna Bhadra. As 'Mahishasuramardini' begins to play on the dawn of Mahalaya, the sky and air of Bengal seem to declare, 'Ma Aasche...' ('Mother is coming...'). The popularity of 'Mahishasuramardini', which has been broadcast for more than nine decades, has not diminished by an inch. It is believed that there are few other such examples in the history of radio broadcasting worldwide!
History - How Did 'Mahishasuramardini' Begin its Journey?
The popularity of music-based programs was highest on Indian
radio. Morning programs were broadcast starting from 1930. Driven by the urge
to create something new, a presentation named 'Basanteshwari' was created.
Basanta (Spring) is the time for the worship of Goddess Basanti. For this
occasion, Banikumar composed 'Basanteshwari' in 1932, based on the narrative of
the Shri Shri Markandeya Chandi. 'Basanteshwari' was broadcast in March 1932
(in the Bengali year 1338), on the morning of Shukla Ashtami of Chaitra, at the
juncture of Basanti and Annapurna Puja. Thanks to the music direction of Raichand
Boral, the tunes composed by Pandit Harishchandra Bali and Pankaj Kumar Mallick,
and the voices of Birendra Krishna Bhadra and Banikumar, 'Basanteshwari' gained
considerable popularity.
Following the footsteps of 'Basanteshwari', the idea to
create a similar program for the autumnal Durga Puja soon began. In 1932
(Bengali year 1339), a musical feature (Geetialekhya) centered around Goddess
Durga's slaying of the demon Mahishasura was broadcast on the dawn of Shashthi.
The program had not been formally named yet and was broadcast as a 'Special
Morning Program'. On September 19, 1933, a refined version of the presentation
was broadcast on the morning of Mahalaya Tithi.
On October 21, 1936, at 6 AM, a 'Special Morning Program'
was broadcast from the Calcutta-A center. The day was Shashthi. The
ninety-minute program was named 'Mahishasur Badh' (Slaying of Mahishasura). The
following year, from 1937, it was given the new name 'Mahishasuramardini'. The
broadcast time was moved two hours earlier, starting at 4 AM. From that year
onwards, 'Mahishasuramardini' began to be played permanently on the dawn of
Mahalaya.
The three legends—Banikumar, Pankaj Kumar Mallick, and Birendra
Krishna Bhadra—along with other artists, have set the tone for Bengali Puja
across ages through 'Mahishasuramardini'. Even today, Bengalis sit in front of
the radio on the dawn of Mahalaya. This program has given a new identity to the
occasion of paying respects to ancestors (Pitripurush).
The Failed 1976 Experiment
In 1976, 'Mahishasuramardini' was replaced by 'Debing
Durgatiharinim', which featured film stars. The public rejected it. 'Stardom'
lost to tradition. 'Mahishasuramardini' was broadcast again on the radio that
year on Shashthi. For Bengalis, the Puja doesn't truly arrive without hearing
Birendra Krishna's voice saying, 'Aashwiner Sharod Prate...' (On the autumnal
Sharad dawn...).