Amid Covid-19, packed ghats mark Mahalaya in West Bengal

Lakhs of people offered 'tarpan' on Mahalaya across West Bengal on Thursday, while Durga Puja festivities this year are going to start more than a month later in an unusual departure from the traditional seven-day gap. (Express photo: Partha Paul)

The day started with lakhs of people paying obeisance to their forefathers on the banks of Hooghly and other water bodies across the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Express photo: Partha Paul)

With the day marking the end of Pitri Pakshya, elders of the family paid homage to their ancestors by performing tarpan, a ritual in which water is offered to the ancestors' souls. (Express photo: Partha Paul)

On Mahalaya, Bengalis traditionally wake up in the morning to listen to Mahisasuramardni, an audio montage of Chandipath recitation from the scriptural verses of Sri Sri Chandi along with devotional songs. (Express photo: Partha Paul)

Adequate security measures have been taken at the 18 ghats in Kolkata where devotees are offering tarpan, officials told PTI.(Express photo: Partha Paul)

Normally, celebrations for Durga Puja begin seven days after Mahalaya. In 2020, however, the much-awaited festival would be held a month after Mahalaya. The last time this happened was in 2001 when Durga Puja was observed 30 days after Mahalaya. (Express photo: Partha Paul)

River traffic police kept a strict vigil along the various ghats of Hooghly to prevent any untoward incident, PTI reported. (Express photo: Partha Paul)