Mahalaya Wallpapers

Mahalaya marks the beginning of Devi Paksha and the end of Pitru Paksha, heralding the arrival of Goddess Durga on earth. Celebrated primarily in West Bengal, it falls on the new moon day of the month of Ashvin, exactly one week before Durga Puja. Early morning broadcasts of Birendra Krishna Bhadra legendary recitation of Chandipath (hymns to Durga) on All India Radio have been a cherished tradition since 1931, with millions of Bengali families waking before dawn to listen. Devotees perform tarpan rituals at riverbanks, offering water to departed ancestors marking the conclusion of Pitru Paksha. Artists perform the ritualistic Chokkhu Daan, painting the eyes of Durga idols to bring them to life. Mahalaya is deeply embedded in Bengali cultural identity and serves as the emotional and spiritual prelude to the five-day Durga Puja festivities. The day is also observed in Assam, Tripura, and Jharkhand.