AGARTALA, Sep 30 (TIWN): Amidst heavy downpour, the weeklong countdown for the biggest festival-Durga Puja starts on Tuesday with the auspicious occasion Mahalaya marking the start of Devipaksha (Fortnight of the Goddess). In this holy morning, Mahalaya was celebrated across the state Tripura with a lot of pomp and gaiety.

A vast number of people from different parts of the state Tripura took a holy dip and performed worship to their departed ancestors on the occasion ‘Mahalaya’, this morning. Besides, special prayers and Poojas were also performed by the devotees at the temples here in Tripura.

Mahalaya also marks the end of the 'Pitri-paksha'. The traditional six day countdown to Mahasaptami started today. Goddess Durga starts her journey towards earth on the day of Mahalaya, the first day of Devi-Paksha. The first day of Navaratra starts just after the Mahalaya celebration.