October 14, 2023 4:50 PM
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Mahalaya marks beginning of Durga Puja festivities
Today is Mahalaya, the auspicious occasion that heralds the beginning of Durga Puja, a time of reverence and reflection. It's a day when the ancestors are remembered and goddess Durga is invoked to descend to Earth. Mahalaya is not just a religious observance but a cultural phenomenon that connects Bengalis across the world.<br />'' <br />''The word Mahalaya is derived from two Sanskrit words, Maha and Alaya, which together mean the Great Abode or the Home of the Goddes...