The auspicious festival of Mahalaya is being celebrated across Odisha on Saturday, marking the conclusion of Pitru Paksha and the sacred dawn of Devi Paksha.
According to Hindu tradition, this day heralds the arrival of Goddess Durga to Earth.
Devotees thronged major pilgrimage centres across the state early in the morning to perform Shraddha, Tila-Tarpana, and Pinda Dāna in memory of their ancestors. Large crowds gathered at the holy city of Puri, Bindusagar tank in Bhubaneswar, and Nabhi Gaya in Jajpur to offer sacred oblations.
Devotees believe ancestors await rituals on Mahalaya, and performing them brings peace, prosperity, and family well-being. State authorities have made special arrangements at major water bodies to handle the heavy rush of pilgrims throughout the day.
