Mahalaya is a significant Hindu festival that marks the beginning of the Durga Puja celebrations in India, particularly in the state of West Bengal. It usually falls in September or October, on the new moon day of the month of Ashwin. On this day, families pay homage to their ancestors through rituals known as Tarpan, seeking blessings and peace for the departed souls. The festival is also associated with the invocation of the goddess Durga, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. Devotees listen to the recitation of the Mahishasura Mardini hymn, which narrates the goddess's triumph over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. This day sets the tone for the grand celebrations that follow during Durga Puja.