Shubho Mahalaya 2010 : Start of Devipaksha

The festivity at its peak after the celebration of Mahalaya 2010. A large number of people offer Tarpan today on river banks to pray for their ancestors. The day marks the start of Devipaksha and end of ‘Pitri Paksha’.

Mahalaya (synonyms to Mahisasurmardini by Birendra Krishna Bhadra) is an auspicious occasion that is observed seven days before the Durga Puja, and heralds the advent of Ma Durga, the goddess of supreme power (Shakti). It’s a kind of invocation or invitation to the mother goddess to descend on earth - “Jago Tumi Jago“. This is done through the chanting of mantras from "Chandi" and singing devotional songs. There is a special type of devotional bengali music called “Agomani” which praise Ma Durga.