Tarpan Tithi Mhalaya.
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency Kolkata: 'Mahalaya' is the date of the end of the Pitru Paksha. The previous Paksha of Devi Paksha is called the other Paksha or Pitru Paksha and the new moon before Devi Paksha is called Mahalaya.
The original meaning of the word Mahalaya is "Great Alay Iti Ba". The word 'Maha' has multiple
meanings. One meaning of the word Maha is worship and the other means festival.
Mahalaya is the abode or shelter of worship or festival. One meaning of the word Alay is shelter. Again, 'Mahalaya' refers to 'Pitru Loka', the place where the deceased ancestors reside.
Therefore, the ceremony of remembering Pitru Loka can be called Mahalaya. At the end of Pitru Paksha, after passing the dark Amavasya, Mahalaya carries the message of the arrival of the bright Devi Paksha. The Goddess herself is that great refuge, Mahalaya. Following the traditional meaning of the word Mahalaya, Goddess Sri Durga is called Mahalaya.
Otherwise, the meaning is lost. Mahalaya is mainly organized because Durga Puja is a large-scale worship. In order for this worship to be performed with devotion, it is necessary to offer sesame seeds and water to the ancestors and receive their blessings before Durga Puja.