Invitation to Bilva tree before Durga Puja; Bengal tradition

Bilva Nimantran is the ritual invitation extended to Goddess Durga through the bilva (bel) tree on the evening of Maha Shashthi, the formal beginning of Durga Puja in Bengal. The bilva is sacred to Shiva and to the Goddess, and in the Bengali rite the Mother is believed to dwell in its branches before she enters the image. The priest goes to a bilva tree, or a bilva branch set up beside the pandal, and with mantras, flowers and offerings invites her to come and accept the worship of the coming days. Bilva Nimantran is performed together with Bodhon, the awakening of the Goddess, and with Amantran and Adhivas, which ritually prepare and sanctify the image and the offerings. It recalls the story of Rama, who, needing the Goddess's blessing before battle with Ravana, awakened her out of season beneath a bilva tree. With this invitation the doors of the festival open: the face of the idol is unveiled in many pandals, the dhak drums begin, and families step out for the first evening of pandal-hopping.

Some devotees fast until the evening rites; most keep a satvik diet.