Today (October 6) marks the end of Pitru Paksha and the beginning of Devi Paksha after end of Pitru Paksha, and the countdown for Bengali's biggest festival Durga Puja starts on that day. 

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This day also marks the start of 'Devi-Paksha' and end of 'Pitru-paksha' which is a 16-lunar day period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors and offer to express gratitude to people who have contributed to our life. On Mahalaya Amavasya, people do tarpan to remember the departed soul of families. Pitri Tarpan early in the morning for the salvation of their forefathers on Mahalaya shraaddh. 

Amavasya Shraddha 2021: Date and time

Amavasya tithi begins - October 5, 2021, at 07:04 pmAmavasya tithi ends - October 6, 2021, at 04:34 pmKutup Muhurat - 11:45 am - 12:32 pmRohina Muhurat - 12:32 pm - 01:19 pmAparahna Kaal - 01:19 pm - 03:40 pmSunrise 06:16 amSunset 06:01 pm

In a way, Mahahalaya is the curtain-raiser for Durga Puja and scores of Bengalis across the world will wake up early in the wee hours of the morning to listen to the chants of Mahishasur Mardini by Birendra Krishna Bhadra.