AGARTALA, October 11 (TIWN): Most awaited festival 'Durga Puja is finally knocking at the door as on Monday the State is going to observe the auspicious occasion of Mahalaya. People of Hindu community residing in every corner will be observing the day.

According to mythology, on occasion of Mahalaya sets the stage for Goddess Durga to leave her abode in Kailash and make her annual trip to her paternal home on earth.

The occasion of Mahalaya ushers in the Durga Puja festivity and the countdown for the week-long fiesta begins on this day.

Mahalaya is witnessed since the wee hours in the morning when people listen to the radio Mahishasur Mardini recital. People also watch the performance of Mahishasur Mardini in television to have the essence of Durga Agaman.

Mahalaya generally rings the bell for the spirit of festivity as the Bengali community along with other Hindus gears up to welcome goddess Durga along with her four children (Laxmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh), who make their annual trip to maternal house on earth.

It is perhaps one day, when Bengali families bring out their transistors and tune in to All India Radio (Akashvani) for the broadcast.

Besides, on this day Bengalis perform a ritual called' Tarpan' on the banks of the Ganges. People residing in Tripura perform rituals in the Laxmi Narayan Lake, Jaganath Bari Lake and many other holy lakes.

 The ritual is observed to pray for the departed souls of the family.

Even food joints and restaurants get crowded on the festive frenzy to commence the puja celebration from day one of Devipaksha.

Durga Puja is an annual Hindu festival which is celebrated by the Hindus all over the world, when they worship the Hindu goddess Durga.