Voice 9, Kolkata Bureau: On the occasion of Mahalaya, individuals in West Bengal engage in the act of paying homage to their ancestors. Devotees partake in the 'Tarpan' rituals, offering water to their forefathers at the banks of the Atreyee River in Balurghat. This significant day commences with individuals expressing their respect for their ancestors along the Hooghly River and other bodies of water throughout the state.
The early morning recitation of Mahishasur
Mardini, a compilation of shlokas and songs dedicated to Goddess Durga, has
become a customary practice on Mahalaya mornings since its initial live
broadcast on AIR in the early 1930s.
To ensure the prevention of any untoward incidents, the river traffic police maintain strict surveillance at various ghats along the Hooghly River. Adequate security measures have also been implemented at the 18 ghats in Kolkata where devotees offer 'tarpan', as confirmed by officials. The Trinamul Congress, BJP, and Congress have extended their greetings on this auspicious occasion.
Today, Mr. Tapan Dasgupta, the esteemed MLA of
Saptagram Vidhan Sabha, performed tarpan at Chunchura Haru Mandal Ghat on the
Punya Lagna of Mahalaya, accompanied by former Deputy Chairman of Zilla
Parishad, Nishesh Ghosh. As Pitri Pakshya concludes, the elders of each family
pay homage to their ancestors through the ritual of tarpan, wherein water is
offered to the souls of their forefathers.
Vehicular movements around the ghats of Hooghly have been regulated to prevent any untoward incidents. Adequate security measures have been implemented at the 18 ghats in Kolkata where devotees offer 'tarpan', as confirmed by officials.
Similar scenes unfold in other districts, with numerous individuals gathering at the banks of rivers and ponds to pay their respects to their forefathers. On Mahalaya, sculptors traditionally draw the eyes of Devi Durga, a ritual known as 'Chokhhu Daan'.
