Mahalaya marks the formal beginning of the Durga Puja festival in Eastern India. Over a period of last five decades, the day is marked with festivities and with commercialisation of Durga Puja, the festival has become more of merriment with scant attention to the gravity of the day. However the real significance of the new moon day is the end of Pritri Paksha, where shraddha for the departed ancestors are done to bless their souls.

Sarvapitri amavasya (all ancestors’ new moon day) is intended for all ancestors, irrespective of the lunar day they died. A shraddha ritual performed on this day is considered as fruitful as one conducted in the holy city of  Gaya, which is seen as a special place to perform the rite, and hosts a fair during the Pritri Paksha period.