Mahalaya 2026The Auspicious Advent of Mother Durga & End of Pitru Paksha
Mahalaya 2026Date & Tarpan Timings
The day Amavasya covers the daylight hours prescribed for Tarpan, closing Pitru Paksha and opening Devi Paksha.
Declared as a public holiday in West Bengal. Offices, schools, and educational institutions remain closed to mark the occasion.
| Observance | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| AmavasyaBhadrapada new moon | 9:36 pm9 Oct, Fri | 9:20 pm10 Oct, Sat |
| Kutup muhuratPreferred time for Tarpan | 10:59 am10 Oct, Sat | 11:46 am10 Oct, Sat |
| Rohina muhuratTarpan | 11:46 am10 Oct, Sat | 12:33 pm10 Oct, Sat |
| Aparahna KaalAfternoon Shraddha | 12:33 pm10 Oct, Sat | 2:54 pm10 Oct, Sat |
Computed for Kolkata from the Swiss Ephemeris with the Lahiri ayanamsa. The muhurats divide the daylight from Kolkata sunrise to sunset into fifteen parts, and are shown only where Amavasya is running throughout. How this is calculated.
Deep Dive into Mahalaya Customs & Rituals
What is Mahalaya?
Mahalaya marks the beginning of the Devi Paksha and the countdown to Durga Puja. It is celebrated at the end of Pitru Paksha (the fortnight of mourning). Traditionally, Bengalis wake up at 4:00 AM on Mahalaya morning to listen to the iconic radio broadcast of "Mahishasura Mardini" recited by Birendra Krishna Bhadra, which narrates the story of Goddess Durga defeating the demon Mahishasura. It is also the day when lakhs of devotees gather along the banks of the River Hooghly (Ganga) to perform Tarpan—offering holy water to their ancestors in remembrance.
Common questions
When is Mahalaya 2026?
Mahalaya 2026 is on Saturday, 10 October 2026. Amavasya begins at 9:36 pm on 9 October 2026, Friday and ends at 9:20 pm on 10 October 2026, Saturday.
What is the best time for Tarpan on Mahalaya 2026?
The Shraddha rules prefer Kutup muhurat, 10:59 am to 11:46 am in Kolkata, then Rohina, 11:46 am to 12:33 pm, and Aparahna until 2:54 pm. Each is a fifteenth of the daylight counted from local sunrise, so they shift by a few minutes across West Bengal. In practice the ghats fill from dawn, and Tarpan offered any time while Amavasya runs is accepted.
What time is Mahishasura Mardini broadcast on Mahalaya?
Akashvani (All India Radio) Kolkata broadcasts Mahishasura Mardini at 4 am on Mahalaya morning, as it has since the 1930s — the recording narrated by Birendra Krishna Bhadra.