Mahalaya Begins Durga Puja Countdown Across India

AI FEED

Mahalaya marks the end of Pitru Paksha and the beginning of Devi Paksha.
Devotees perform Tarpan to honour their ancestors, while traditional Mahishasura Mardini recitations mark the occasion.
Artisans and festival organisers are making final preparations for Durga Puja celebrations.

Kolkata: Mahalaya marked the beginning of the countdown to Durga Puja across India on Saturday, with devotees observing ancestral rituals and communities preparing to welcome Goddess Durga.

The occasion marks the conclusion of Pitru Paksha and the beginning of Devi Paksha, the auspicious period associated with the goddess. From West Bengal to New Delhi, Mumbai and Assam, traditional prayers, devotional broadcasts and preparations for the festival signalled the arrival of the festive season.

Mahishasura Mardini Recitation Marks Mahalaya

For many households, Mahalaya began before sunrise with the familiar recitation of Mahishasura Mardini by Birendra Krishna Bhadra.

The celebrated broadcast, associated with All India Radio, remains a longstanding part of Mahalaya observances. Its devotional chants and narration evoke the story of Goddess Durga and her victory over the demon Mahishasura.

The annual tradition brings families together in the early morning and marks an emotional beginning to the Durga Puja season.

Devotees Perform Tarpan at River Ghats

In Kolkata, devotees gathered at river ghats along the Hooghly, including Babughat and Bagbazar, to perform Tarpan on Sarva Pitru Amavasya.

Standing in the water, participants offered water and black sesame seeds to honour their departed ancestors. The ritual is an important part of Hindu ancestral remembrance during the concluding day of Pitru Paksha.

Similar observances were reported along the Ganga in Varanasi and Patna, where pilgrims gathered for prayers and ancestral rites.

Chokkhu Daan Marks a Key Stage in Durga Idol Preparation

In Kolkata’s traditional potters’ neighbourhood of Kumartuli, artisans carried out preparations associated with Chokkhu Daan, the ritual of painting the eyes of Goddess Durga idols.

The ceremony holds deep symbolic significance for artisans and devotees. The painting of the eyes represents the invocation of the goddess into her crafted image and is an important moment in the preparation of Durga idols.

With the festival approaching, sculptors are completing the finishing touches on clay idols that will be installed in pandals and worshipped during the celebrations.

Durga Puja Preparations Gather Pace

Across major cities, pandal-makers, lighting technicians and community organisers are working to complete preparations ahead of Maha Shashthi, when Durga Puja celebrations enter a major public phase.

Festival installations range from replicas of historic architectural structures to contemporary themed designs. Lighting, decorations and other arrangements are also being completed as organisers prepare to welcome visitors.

Civic authorities and state administrations are planning security arrangements, traffic diversions and crowd management for the expected festive gatherings.