Thousands celebrate Mahalaya in Jorhat, Assam. Thousands gathered in Jorhat, Assam, in the early hours to celebrate Mahalaya, marking the arrival of Goddess Durga and the end of Pitru Paksha. The Tarajan Sanmilan, a nearly 100-year-old tradition, marked its centenary with a grand procession and cultural programmes. Mahalaya signals the beginning of Durga Puja preparations across Assam.