Mahalaya today

The Hindu community in the country is celebrated Mahalaya, the auspicious occasion heralding the advent of goddess Durga, on Saturday.

With the beginning of ‘Devipaksha’, Mahalaya is observed six days before Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bengali Hindu community. Usually, the Devi Paksha commences with Mahalaya Amavasya.
Marking the day, special programmes of Mahalaya have been arranged at different temples across the country, including the capital, Saturday at dawn.

According to Hindu mythology, Mahalaya marks the last day of ‘Krishnapaksha’, which is a dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin.

On Mahalaya, the Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee arranged special programmes at Dhakeshwari Temple from 6am.

On this day, Hindus remember and pay homage to their deceased ancestors by performing a puja, and offering Brahmins clothes, food and sweets in their names.

Durga Puja will begin on October 20 on the day of Maha Shashthi.