Today is Mahalaya, the end of Pitru Paksha, when Hindus pay their tribute to ancestors. It lasts for sixteen days and culminates on Mahalaya, when water is offered as tarpan to the family members and other loved ones who have died in the past. So in a way, today is an inauspicious day when Hindus perform death rites of their past generation.
Mahalaya started with Amavasya tithi kicking off from 10.49 AM in the morning. It will continue till 9.08 AM on Tuesday according to Visuddha Sidhanta. After that Devi Paksha will start heralding the official countdown for Durga Puja. This year, it will be held between 16th-19th October, with Sashti on 15th October, when Devi's 'Chakhudan' (Awakening) will be done.
In a way, Mahalaya has become associated with the programme Mahisashur Mardini aired from 1930s on All India Radio. It has de-facto become the starting point of Durga Puja and the spirit of festivity comes from the fact that many people stay awake till 4AM to hear the annual broadcast of the programme even today. So, while Devi Paksha starts from a day after, Mahalaya has for all practical purpose become the starting point of Durga Puja.
'Mahishasur Mardini' also known as 'Annihilation of the Demon' speaks about the cruel nature of the demon king Mahishasura against the gods.
The gods unable to bear the cruelty pleaded with Lord Vishnu to destroy the demon. Then Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara (Shiva), the Trinity came together in the form of a female figure with ten arms- Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga then rides on a lion to battle with the Mahishasura and slays the 'Asura' king. Once she slays the demon, heaven and earth rejoice at her victory. This mantra marks her victory "Ya devi sarbabhuteshu, shakti rupena sanksthita Namasteswai Namasteswai Namasteswai namo namaha" .
So, all things concerned Subho Mahalaya is a bit of a paradox, though now an integral part of Bengali popular usage.
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 "otees perform \"Tarpan\" rituals to pay obeisance to their forefathers on the last day of \"Pitru Paksha")
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