Kolkata: Mahalaya, heralding the festive season of Durga Puja, was observed in Kolkata today (Oct 13, 2004) as thousands of devotees thronged the ghats of the Ganga to offer customary obeisance to their forefathers. The ghats were teeming with people even before daybreak for the 'tarpan' ritual in which priests offered prayers of peace for the departed souls.

Police arrangement was in place in all the ghats and bathers were cautioned not to take bath during high tides. Special police launches patrolled the river banks.

The soulful songs and chants of the evergreen radio programme at dawn, 'Mahisasuramardini', echoed from millions of Bengali homes throughout the State.

Some persons tuned in to TV channels to view special programmes aired on the occasion and listen to 'Agamani', a musical invocation to Goddess Durga which sets the tone for the forthcoming festivities.

Mahaylaya, the official beginning of the 'Devi Paksha' (the fortnight of the Goddess), also saw idol-makers at the potter's village of Kumartuli near Kolkata give final touches to the clay figures of Goddess Durga and her divine progeny, which would adorn hundreds of pandals across the metropolis in a couple of days.

With just seven days to go for the four-day Durga Puja festival, artists also painted eyes on the nearly completed idols of the Goddess in keeping with a pre-puja ritual.