Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Thousands Across Odisha Offer Pinda Daan on Mahalaya
Mahalaya is a day when people remember and honour their ancestors.
In Odisha, many people went to rivers, ponds and the sea to perform special prayers and give offerings.
Crowds gathered at several well-known religious places.
At Samaleswari Temple, visitors saw the goddess dressed in white, a special appearance for Mahalaya.
The temple opened at 5 a.m.
because many people were expected.
Mahalaya ends Pitru Paksha and begins Devi Paksha.
Navaratri starts the next day.
Odisha’s governor, chief minister and opposition leader also shared greetings for the occasion.
People across Odisha gathered at water bodies to offer tila tarpan and pinda daan to their ancestors.
Large crowds gathered at Bindu Sagar Tank in Bhubaneswar, Narendra Pond in Puri and the Baitarani River near Jajpur.
Devotees visited Samaleswari Temple in Sambalpur to see the goddess in her white Dhabalamukhi Besha, symbolising Ganga Mata.
The temple opened at 5 a.m. ahead of the expected large congregation; Samaleswari is otherwise described as wearing red attire year-round.
Mahalaya marks the end of Pitru Paksha and the beginning of Devi Paksha; Navaratri begins the following day.
- Who
- People and devotees across Odisha; Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and opposition leader Naveen Patnaik also sent greetings.
- What
- People observed Mahalaya and performed tila tarpan and pinda daan for their ancestors.
- When
- Saturday, October 10; the report does not specify the year.
- Where
- Across Odisha, including Bhubaneswar, Puri, Jajpur and Sambalpur.
- Why
- Mahalaya is an occasion to remember ancestors and marks the end of Pitru Paksha and the start of Devi Paksha.
- Occasion
- Mahalaya
- Date
- Saturday, October 10; year not specified
- Ancestral rites
- Tila tarpan and pinda daan
- Reported gathering sites
- Bindu Sagar Tank in Bhubaneswar, Narendra Pond in Puri and the Baitarani River near Jajpur
- Samaleswari Temple
- In Sambalpur; opened at 5 a.m. for the expected congregation
- Dhabalamukhi Besha
- The goddess appeared in white attire, described as symbolising Ganga Mata; she is otherwise in red attire year-round
- Festival calendar
- Mahalaya ends Pitru Paksha and begins Devi Paksha; Navaratri starts the following day
- Public greetings
- Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik greeted people
