Mahalaya is celebrated to mark the beginning of the ‘Devi Paksha’ and the end of the ‘Pitru Paksha’ (Shraddha or the mourning period). On this day, most Bengalis wake up in the pre-dawn hours at 4 am to tune into the ‘Mahisasura Mardini’ broadcast. The countdown to Durga Puja, one of the biggest festivals in India, begins from Mahalaya.