SILCHAR: As the first light of dawn broke over the Barak River on Saturday, thousands of devotees flocked to the twin bridges and ghats of Silchar, ushering in Mahalaya with traditional rituals and festive fervour.

The day marks the end of Pitru Paksha and the beginning of Devi Paksha, signalling the countdown to Durga Puja. Mahalaya 2026 falls on Saturday, October 10 (Ashwin Krishna Amavasya), with the Amavasya tithi prevailing through the day.

Long before sunrise, families made their way to the historic Sadarghat Bridge and the newer Annapurna Ghat, continuing an age-old local tradition. Men performed tarpan—offering water, sesame seeds and prayers to ancestors—along the riverbanks while the iconic Mahishasura Mardini (Chandipath) in the voice of the late Birendra Krishna Bhadra played from loudspeakers and homes across the city.

Early reports and local updates described large gatherings transforming the bridges into a sea of people, a familiar sight that has defined Silchar’s Mahalaya for decades. The atmosphere blended quiet reverence for forefathers with the rising excitement of Maa Durga’s approaching homecoming.

In Silchar, the dual character of the day was on full display: solemn ancestral rites at the river and the unmistakable stirrings of the festive season. Shops began opening earlier than usual, confectioners prepared special sweets, and conversations turned to pandal preparations and the upcoming five-day celebration that formally begins with Maha Shashthi on October 16.

Weather remained favourable for the morning gatherings, allowing devotees to complete their rituals comfortably. As the sun rose higher over the Barak, the city settled into the quiet anticipation that always follows Mahalaya—the sacred bridge between remembrance and celebration.