Kolkata’s Mahalaya rituals drew thousands of people to river ghats on Saturday morning, with authorities deploying additional security, monitoring waterways and regulating traffic near the bathing and prayer areas, according to Bartaman Patrika – Kolkata.
Crowds gathered from early morning at Babughat, Judges Ghat and Baghbazar Maayer Ghat in Kolkata for tarpan, the ritual offering of water and sesame in remembrance of deceased ancestors. The report said security arrangements were put in place at each ghat to reduce the risk of accidents during the large public gathering.
Waterway surveillance was also conducted, while traffic movement on roads adjoining the ghats was controlled by the administration. The measures indicate that crowd management involved both the riverfront and the surrounding road network, which typically carries visitors, local residents and vehicles during the early-morning rush.
Mahalaya marks the end of the Pitru Paksha period and the beginning of the Devi Paksha period. On this day, devotees traditionally offer water and sesame at the Ganga or other water bodies as a gesture of respect for deceased ancestors. The ritual brought large numbers of people to riverbanks across Kolkata and districts of West Bengal.
Nabadwip also saw heavy crowds at its bathing ghats from the early hours. The report said people arrived from districts outside Nadia, and police maintained security during the bathing ceremonies. The arrangements covered the town’s different ghats as visitors gathered for the Mahalaya observances.
At Sadar Ghat in Burdwan, District Magistrate Shweta Agrawal visited in the early morning to review the safety arrangements for pilgrims. The report also described large gatherings at the Bhagirathi ghats in Berhampore, where security measures were in place from dawn and the tarpan process was reported to be proceeding in an orderly manner.
In Malda, devotees performed ancestral offerings at Mission Ghat on the Mahananda from the morning. The concentration of visitors at multiple rivers and ghats across the state placed the focus on basic public-event administration: regulating access, preventing incidents in and around the water, maintaining road movement and coordinating police and district officials.
The urban management challenge at such events extends beyond the ritual sites themselves. Ghats become temporary high-density public spaces, while adjoining roads and waterways require simultaneous monitoring. In Kolkata, the administration’s measures included road traffic controls and surveillance on the water, alongside security at individual ghats.
Mahalaya also marked the beginning of the wider Durga Puja preparation cycle. The report said traditional eye-painting ceremonies for Durga idols were conducted in artisans’ homes, while some idols were taken from Kumartuli to pandals after worship. Sharad period publications were also released in some places, adding to the start of the festival season.
The report did not provide figures for the number of police personnel deployed, the number of visitors at individual ghats, or details of any accidents or arrests. It said the rituals were continuing under security arrangements at the covered locations.
