Hindus across the country are celebrating Mahalaya, the auspicious occasion that heralds the advent of Goddess Durga, today (Sunday).
Considered as a ceremonial invocation of Goddess Durga, Mahalaya is observed a week before Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, reports UNB.
Hindus believe the earth prepares itself and welcomes the coming of the Goddess and her children, through the celebrations.
According to the Hindu calendar, Durga Puja will begin on October 1 on the day of Maha Shashthi. Goddess Durga will come to the earth (Martyalok) riding an elephant (Gaja) through the Maha Sashthi Puja this year.
Marking Mahalaya, the Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee has arranged special programmes at Dhakeshwari Temple from 6 am.
This year there will be 32,168 puja mandaps across the country.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
