Kolkata, Sep 24 - Dressed in their best, people from all walks of life hit the streets to visit picturesque pandals (marquees) and pray to Goddess Durga as West Bengali's biggest festival began across the state Thursday.

The worship of the goddess began with 'Akal Bodhon' - the time for invoking the goddess, in keeping with the traditions. According to mythology, Lord Rama invoked the goddess in autumn to seek her blessings for killing demon king Ravana.

There was all round merriment in the city and suburbs and people stood in long queues in front of the marquees for their turn for darshan of the goddess.

'It's always fun hopping different pandals with family members,' said Rudrendu Banerjee of Howrah.

'On Mahashasti, the traffic congestion is generally not much.