Chokkhu Daan: A special Mahalaya ritual

The idols of goddess Durga never fail to mesmerise us. Artisans all over the country began preparing the idols from months in advance and the final result is simply breathtaking. But did you know that there is a special ritual associated with painting of the eyes of the goddess? On Mahalaya, which is specially celebrated , sculptors, who have been working for days carving and chiseling the statue of Durga, carry out their final touch of drawing the eyes of the Mother, called Chokkhu Daan, which means offering the eyes to Durga idol has a special significance; artisans paint the beautiful eyes of the goddess in the week hours and only a senior member from the artisan community is allowed to draw the eyes of Maa Durga. Mahalaya marks the beginning of Durga’s journey to visit her father’s house, and us. 

Source: Times of India