Bengal's untimely awakening of Goddess Durga on Shashthi, as Rama did before battle

Akal Bodhon means the untimely awakening, and it is the ritual heart of Durga Puja's opening in Bengal. In the traditional reckoning the gods sleep through Dakshinayana, the southern half of the Sun's year, and the natural time for worshipping the Goddess is spring, as in Basanti Puja. The Krittivasi Ramayana and the Kalika Purana tell how Lord Rama, preparing to fight Ravana in autumn, could not wait: he awakened the Goddess out of season, worshipping her with 108 blue lotuses. When one lotus went missing — hidden by the Goddess to test him — Rama, called lotus-eyed, prepared to offer one of his own eyes in its place, and Durga appeared, stopped him and blessed his victory. Because of that devotion the autumn worship, Sharadiya Durga Puja, became the greatest festival of Bengal. The Bodhon is performed on the evening of Shashthi beneath a bilva tree or branch, with Amantran and Adhivas, and it awakens the Goddess who will be worshipped through Saptami, Ashtami and Navami before her farewell on Dashami.

Mothers often keep a Shashthi fast for their children's welfare; others keep a satvik diet.