As dawn breaks on Mahalaya, the ghats of Kolkata come alive with the age-old ritual of Tarpan. At Prasanna Tagore Ghat and Jagannath Ghat, people gather by the Hooghly to offer prayers and pay homage to their ancestors. A morning steeped in faith, remembrance and tradition, Mahalaya marks the beginning of Devi Paksha and the countdown to Durga Puja. Scenes from the ghats as Kolkata welcomes the auspicious day.