Bhubaneswar: People across Odisha Saturday paid obeisance to their forefathers on the occasion of ‘Mahalaya’, which marks the end of ‘Pitru Paksha’.
People across the state converged at water bodies, including the sea, rivers and ponds, to offer ’tila tarpan’ and ‘pinda daan’ to their forefathers.
Massive crowds of devotees were seen at Bindu Sagar Tank near Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, Narendra Pond at the northern gate of Jagannath Temple in Puri and Baitarani River near Maa Biraja Temple in Jajpur.
Thousands of devotees also thronged the Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur to have a ‘darshan’ of the goddess adorned in white attire or the ‘Dhabalamukhi Besha’, which symbolises ‘Ganga Mata’. Goddess Samaleswari remains in red attire round the year except on Mahalaya.
Doors of the temple were opened for devotees at 5 am in view of the expected large congregation.
Mahalaya marks the beginning of ‘Devi Paksha’. The Navaratri festival begins a day after Mahalaya.
Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik greeted people on the occasion.
“Greetings and best wishes on the occasion of the sacred Mahalaya. May everyone’s life be filled with happiness and prosperity by the blessings of Mother Durga,” the governor said in a social media post.
Majhi said, “My heartfelt greetings to all on the sacred Mahalaya Amavasya, the occasion for remembering our ancestors. May everyone’s life overflow with happiness, peace, and prosperity during the holy time of Mother Durga’s advent.”