Kolkatans rose at the crack of dawn to cloudy skies on Mahalaya and headed to the several ghats on the Hooghly to offer ‘tarpan’ (honour ancestors and seek salvation of their souls)
Soumyajit DeyBeneath the Howrah Bridge, this priest holds on to an umbrella amid the rain even as he guides devotees to utter mantras for their ancestors
Soumyajit DeyBefore or after the rituals, tea kiosks and those selling puja paraphernalia made brisk business around the Hooghly ghats
Amit Datta and Ashim PaulUnder the grey skies and steady drizzle, the Howrah Bridge was the only prominent structure visible for some time even as crowds were milling around priests dressed immaculately for the occasion
Ashim PaulFor the safety of the devotees offering ‘tarpan’, the Kolkata Police Disaster Response team at Babughat had tied their rubber dinghies with countryboats to cordon off certain areas in the water
Suvendu DasKolkatans offered plateful of edibles and water to their ancestors on the steps of the Bagbazar, Ahiritola and Jaganath ghats
Ashim PaulGradually the grey clouds gave way to some sunlight towards late morning as captured from a ghat in Howrah
Soumyajit DeyThis priest was only one of the many gesticulating animatedly as he reeled off the mantras for the people to repeat
Ashim Paul