Bengali Hindus to Celebrate Mahalaya Sunday

Hindus across Bangladesh will celebrate Mahalaya, which heralds the advent of Goddess Durga, Sunday.

Considered a ceremonial invocation of Goddess Durga, Mahalaya is observed a week before Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of Bengali Hindus.

Hindus believe the earth prepares itself and welcomes the coming of the Goddess and her children through the celebrations.

Durga Puja will begin on October 1 on the day of Maha Shashthi.

Special programmes of Mahalaya will be arranged at different temples across the country, including the capital, tomorrow.

On this day, Hindus remember and pay homage to their deceased ancestors by performing worship services, and offering Brahmins clothes, food and sweets.