Bells, drums and chants ring out as Mahalaya opens Durga Puja festivities in Bangladesh

From temples and community pavilions, the sound of conch shells, the beat of drums, and the chanting of scriptural verses Chandi echoed through as devotees marked the arrival of Goddess Durga in the mortal realm. With the installation of the mangal ghot (auspicious pot) and offerings of flowers, basil, and bel leaves, this year’s Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival for Bengali Hindus, has formally begun with the rituals of Mahalaya on Sunday. Traditionally, Hindus perform tarpan on this day, offering prayers and water to ancestors spanning three generations. The practice is rooted in the belief that the souls of forefathers dwell in Pitrlok, a realm between heaven and earth, overseen by Yama, the god of death. With tarpan, devotees...