Editorial photo #10637192 Religion and Belief
Mahalaya Observation In Kolkata .
People are seen offering prayers to their ancestors at a riverside during Mahalaya observation in Kolkata , India , on 14 October 2023 . Mahalaya marks the beginning of Devi Paksha and Durga puja and the end of the Pitri Paksha which is a period of mourning. Hindus consider Pitri Paksha to be inauspicious as death rites are performed during this period. It is a 16-day lunar period during which people remember and pay homage to their ancestors using food and water offerings at local river and water bodies. (Photo by Debarchan Chatterjee/NurPhoto)
