CM Himanta Marks Mahalaya, Durga Puja Countdown Begins
Synopsis
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma greeted the state on Mahalaya 2026, marking the start of Devi Paksha and the official Durga Puja countdown as artisans across Assam put finishing touches on goddess idols ahead of the five-day festival.
Key Takeaways
Mahalaya fell on Saturday, October 10, 2026 , marking the start of Devi Paksha and the Durga Puja countdown.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma invoked the tradition of Chandi Paath recitation at dawn as the festival season's opening signal.
Artists across Assam are in the final phase of idol-making, with the goddess and her children given 'final touches' as of Mahalaya.
Durga Puja is among the most significant cultural and religious festivals in Assam and the Northeast, drawing lakhs of devotees over five days.
Sarma closed with the salutation 'Jai Jai Maa Durga' , blending personal devotion with his public role as Assam's chief minister.
The conch shells are sounding, the Chandi Paath is in the air, and across Assam, artists are putting the final brushstrokes on clay goddesses — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma marked the arrival of Mahalaya on Saturday, October 10, 2026, signalling the formal start of the Durga Puja countdown as Devi Paksha begins.
What Mahalaya means — and why Assam pauses for it
Mahalaya is the dawn that changes everything. It marks the end of Pitru Paksha — the fortnight of ancestral remembrance — and the beginning of Devi Paksha, the sacred sixteen days that culminate in Durga Puja. Tradition holds that on this morning, Maa Durga begins her descent to Earth with her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, and Ganesh, making the day a deeply emotional threshold for millions of devotees across Bengal and the Northeast.
The Chandi Paath — a recitation of the 'Devi Mahatmya', the ancient Sanskrit text extolling the goddess — is broadcast at dawn and serves as the sonic signal that the festival season has truly opened. CM Sarma described it evocatively as 'the humming of Chandi Paath,' a phrase that captures both the devotional intimacy and the community-wide scale of the moment.
Artisans across Assam in the final stretch
Behind the spiritual moment is months of human craft. Sarma highlighted that artists across the state are giving 'final touches' to the idols of the goddess and her divine family — a process that typically involves weeks of clay-work, painting, and ornamentation in workshops called kumhartolis. With Mahalaya now past, those finishing touches carry real urgency: the goddess must be ready to receive her devotees when Shashthi arrives.
Durga Puja is among the largest festivals in Assam and the broader Northeast, with community pandals drawing lakhs of visitors over five days. The cultural and economic pulse of the region visibly quickens as the countdown clock starts.
A Chief Minister's seasonal salutation
Sarma closed his post with 'Jai Jai Maa Durga' and a folded-hands emoji — a salutation that is simultaneously personal and political in a state where festival identity is woven tightly into public life. As BJP leader and NEDA convenor, Sarma has consistently used cultural milestones to connect with Assam's majority Hindu electorate; his Mahalaya greeting lands as both devotional and ceremonial.
With the puja pandals nearly ready and the goddess on her way, Assam's biggest autumn celebration is no longer on the horizon — it is at the door.
Point of View
Rich in devotional imagery like the 'humming of Chandi Paath' and the goddess's 'yearly earthly sojourn,' signals a leader who speaks the festival's idiom fluently, not just formally. In a state where BJP has invested heavily in Hindu cultural identity, the timing and texture of such posts are rarely accidental. The broader arc here is the Northeast's growing centrality in BJP's cultural-political calendar.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mahalaya and why is it important for Durga Puja?
Mahalaya marks the end of Pitru Paksha and the beginning of Devi Paksha — the sixteen sacred days leading to Durga Puja. It is the day tradition holds that Maa Durga begins her earthly descent, and a pre-dawn recitation of the Chandi Paath (Devi Mahatmya) signals the festival season's formal opening.
When does Durga Puja 2026 start after Mahalaya?
Mahalaya 2026 fell on October 10. Durga Puja celebrations formally begin on Shashthi, six days later, with Mahasaptami, Ashtami, Navami, and Dashami (Vijaya Dashami) following in succession.
What did Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma say about Mahalaya 2026?
CM Sarma noted that as Devi Paksha begins with the humming of Chandi Paath, the Durga Puja countdown has officially started, and artists across Assam are giving final touches to idols of Maa Durga and her children. He closed with 'Jai Jai Maa Durga.'
What is Chandi Paath and when is it recited?
Chandi Paath refers to the recitation of the 'Devi Mahatmya,' an ancient Sanskrit text from the Markandeya Purana that celebrates the goddess Durga's victories. It is traditionally recited at dawn on Mahalaya, and its broadcast on radio has been a beloved ritual in Bengal and the Northeast for decades.
How is Durga Puja celebrated in Assam?
Durga Puja in Assam is celebrated with community pandals, elaborate clay idols of Maa Durga and her divine family, traditional music, and rituals over five days culminating in Vijaya Dashami. The festival is a major cultural and religious event drawing lakhs of devotees across the state.
