Mahalaya 2026 will be celebrated on Saturday on October 10. Most people know this day as the day before Durga puja but a lot of people don’t understand the significance of this day and take it very lightly. They use this day to prepare for the Durga puja but this day is so much more than the preparations. The morning marks the closing of remembering the death and also opens the door for the goddess to arrive.Â
Mahalaya 2026 Date & Timings
The Amavasya tithi for Mahalaya starts on the evening of October 9 till the evening of October 10. Now the timings can vary from place to place depending on the source and location. Although many places have similar calculations, it starts from 8:58 PM on October 9 and ends around 8:33 PM on October 10.
The Mahishasuramardini broadcast airs from approximately 4 AM on October 10 across All India ww Radio. Now we should note that the sunrise in Kolkata that morning falls around 5:45 AM. The tarpan can be performed anytime from sunrise through the late morning. Now you have to understand that even a few minutes can make a drastic difference depending on which panchang your family follows, so it is always better to cross check from a few people before setting up your alarm.
What Mahalaya Actually Marks
I think people sometimes overlook the real significance of mahalaya and a lot of people have no idea what mahalaya is so important. It isn’t just a day to honour your ancestors, this is to say is a bridge between remembering your ancestors and welcoming the goddess. The morning marks the end of Pitri Paksha, remembering our forefathers and ancestors. The same day the Devi Paksha. This is the time when the goddess is believed to begin her journey toward earth.Â
Tarpan: The Ancestral Ritual
The tarpan tradition is performed mostly by sons but with times it has changed and now many daughters and relatives perform it as well. The ritual is very normal where you mix water with til, black sesame seeds and it is poured by kush grass while remembering your paternal ancestors. In kolkata you will see a lot of people performing this near Hooghly.
Best ghats in Kolkata to witness tarpan
Kolkata is near the banks so it witnesses a lot of Tarpan on the riverbank at so many various ghats. One the most popular ghat that draws a large number of crowds is Babughat ghat. if you want to see the ritual at its biggest, this is the place to be.Â
Ahiritola Ghat and Bagbazar Ghat are in North Kolkata’s older neighborhoods. These places have so much history and that’s why tarpan here feels more intimate, less crowded.Â
Princep Ghat has a memorial of the British era that makes it unique. Dakshineswar has rituals with the temple’s own puja making it worth the extra distance of travelling. One thing I’d like to add is that these rituals are quite private so make sure you don’t treat it like a festival of joy and keep clicking pictures and videos with a smile or laugh or disturb other people.
The 4 AM Broadcast
Since the 1930s, All India Radio’s Akashvani has aired the Mahishasuramardini programme at approximately 4 AM on the Mahalaya morning. This broadcast was basically Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s recitation of Chandipath verses from the Chandi. It was also known as the Devi Mahatmya. For a lot of Bengali households, this broadcast hints to the start of the festival for almost a century and the tradition is still alive and well in Kolkata and in the hearts of people.
Mahalaya in Kolkata: What the City Feels Like
I am usually woken up by the broadcast playing from my nana’’s old radio way before my alarm goes off. For my nana it is very important to hear the broadcast in order to start the festival. There is just something about waking up the chants of verses instead of alarms. It almost feels antique yet beautiful, to be away from the devices, a different way to welcome our Goddess. The shops don’t open so early so you have so much time to start preparing for the festival and introspect about life.
In Kumartuli, the potters’ quarter where every idol for the city is made in advance the Mahalaya morning brings chokkhudaan which basically means that the eyes are painted onto the goddess for the first time, and until that happens, the idol isn’t considered spiritually complete. It also symbolises that the Goddess is ready to come to Earth. It’s a small, almost private ritual without any huge gathering but it marks the start of the festival in an unique way.
Is Mahalaya the First Day of Durga Puja?
No and this trips people up constantly. Mahalaya marks the start of Devi Paksha, which functions more like a countdown window than the festival itself. The actual puja rituals begin on Shashthi. In 2026, that gap runs about six days, with Mahalaya on October 10 and Shashthi landing on October 16
Do’s and Don’ts on Mahalaya
Do wake early for the broadcast if it’s part of your family’s tradition, it’s a short window and doesn’t repeat. Do perform tarpan with proper materials and, if you’re new to it, ask a priest or family elder to walk you through it rather than guessing. Do arrive at a ghat early if you’re going to observe rather than participate. Don’t treat tarpan sites as photo backdrops, this is a genuine ritual moment for the people there. Don’t be loud or disruptive near riverbank crowds during the ceremony. And don’t schedule major celebrations on Mahalaya itself; the day carries a quieter, more reflective undertone even with all the festive energy building around it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the date and time of Mahalaya 2026?
The date and time of the Mahalaya is from 9 October, till the evening of October 10. The timings are 8:58 PM on October 9 and ends around 8:33 PM on October 10.
What time does Mahishasuramardini air on Mahalaya?
The programme airs at 4 AM on All India Radio, which officially marks the start of the festival for the people of Kolkata.
Is Mahalaya the beginning of Durga Puja?
No, it marks the start of Devi Paksha. The actual puja begins on Shashthi, six days later in 2026.
Why is tarpan performed on Mahalaya?
It’s the day Pitri Paksha closes, making it the most significant day in the year for offer water, complete the rituals and remember your ancestors.
Can women perform tarpan?
Traditionally the ritual was performed by the sons, but things have changed because many families let their daughters and other relatives perform it.
Where can I watch tarpan in Kolkata?
Babughat, Bagbazar Ghat, Ahiritola Ghat, Princep Ghat, and Dakshineswar are the ghats where you can witness the tarpan but please don’t invade anyone’s privacy.
How many days after Mahalaya is Durga Puja 2026?
After the Mahalaya, you will have to wait six days, Mahalaya falls on October 10, and Shashthi, the formal start of the puja, falls on October 16.
Why do Bengalis wake up at 4 AM on Mahalaya?
To listen to the Mahishasuramardini broadcast, a decades-old radio tradition that many consider the true start of the festive season.
