Mahalaya is a significant day in the Hindu calendar that marks the beginning of Devi Paksha and the end of Pitri Paksha, a period of mourning dedicated to ancestors on the paternal side of the family. Hindus consider Pitri Paksha to be inauspicious because shradhh or death rites are performed during this period. Mahalaya is celebrated roughly seven days before Durga Puja, which is a ten-day festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. On the day of Mahalaya, Bengalis wake up early in the morning to listen to a collection of songs and mantras called Mahishasura Mardini, which invoke the Goddess Durga. The most famous rendition of these mantras is in the sonorous voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra. Mahalaya is a happy occasion that reminds people of the power of truth, courage, and the universal fact that good will always triumph over evil. The day is celebrated with beautifully designed statues of Goddess Durga, and various rituals are performed, such as offering tarpan and remembering ancestors.