📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Kingshuk Mondal
Religion
Mahalaya ushers in festive spirit as Jharkhand prepares for Durga Puja
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 11 Oct 2026, 02:46 AM
👁 16
The observance of Mahalaya has marked the beginning of Durga Puja celebrations across Jharkhand, with temples and communities gearing up for the major festival.
Mahalaya, the auspicious day that signals the start of the Durga Puja season, was observed on Saturday with traditional rituals and devotional chants across Jharkhand. Devotees gathered at local temples to perform the Mahalaya puja, invoking the goddess Durga and marking the transition from the monsoon to the festive period.
In the days following Mahalaya, municipal bodies and cultural groups in the state have begun setting up elaborate pandals, lighting streets with earthen lamps, and arranging cultural programmes that showcase folk music and dance. Major cities such as Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad report a surge in demand for decorative materials, with artisans preparing intricate idols and thematic installations.
Authorities are coordinating with organizers to ensure crowd management and safety measures ahead of the main puja days. Police have been deployed at key venues, and health officials are monitoring hygiene standards in food stalls and public spaces. The early preparations suggest a vibrant and well‑attended Durga Puja season for Jharkhand this year.
In the days following Mahalaya, municipal bodies and cultural groups in the state have begun setting up elaborate pandals, lighting streets with earthen lamps, and arranging cultural programmes that showcase folk music and dance. Major cities such as Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad report a surge in demand for decorative materials, with artisans preparing intricate idols and thematic installations.
Authorities are coordinating with organizers to ensure crowd management and safety measures ahead of the main puja days. Police have been deployed at key venues, and health officials are monitoring hygiene standards in food stalls and public spaces. The early preparations suggest a vibrant and well‑attended Durga Puja season for Jharkhand this year.