A large number of people from various parts of the country took a holy dip in the Ganga and performed pujas for their departed ancestors on the occasion of ‘Mahalaya Amavasya’ today.
Mahalaya Amavasya is considered a highly auspicious day for performing rituals for ancestors and forefathers.
Mahalaya, marks the commencement of Devi Paksha. The occasion is observed from the wee hours of the morning, starting with a radio broadcast of late spiritual poet Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s Mahishasur Mardini recital.
Large number of people gather on the banks of different rivers to perform Tarpan in the memory of their departed ancestors.
There is another story which relates the Mahalaya festival to Goddess Durga. Mahalaya is said to be the time when the Goddess Durga killed the asuras. The Bengalis consider this an auspicious day and it is celebrated in many parts of Bengal.
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