Siliguri, 17th September: Mahalaya commenced with several people paying homage to their forefathers on the banks of various rivers across the city amid COVID-19 pandemic.
The day marks the end of Pitri Pakshya, elders of the family pay homage to their ancestors by performing tarpan, a ritual in which water is offered to the ancestors’ souls.
In this context, strict police surveillance is being kept to prevent overcrowding at the ghats in Siliguri where devotees are offering tarpan. Miking was also carried out by the police to raise awareness in Lal Mohan Moulik Niranjan Ghat.
Also, the auspicious celebration of Vishwakarma Puja has coincided with the Mahalaya this year. Lord Vishwakarma, the divine architect as per the Hindu mythology, is being worshipped in a much smaller scale across the city in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.