Sunamganj:A festive atmosphere is prevailing across the district as preparations for the Hindu community's biggest religious festival, Durga Puja, are nearing completion at 444 mandaps.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, with the arrival of autumn, artisans are putting the final touches on idols, and workers are completing decorations and lighting at puja venues. The festival is set to begin with Mahalaya on October 10, followed by the main rituals starting on October 16 with Maha Shashthi. The celebrations will continue with Saptami on October 17, Ashtami on October 19, Nabami on October 20, and culminate with Bijoya Dashami on October 21.
As the festival approaches, idol makers have become increasingly busy, completing bamboo frameworks, straw structures, and clay work, while painting and ornamentation of the idols are underway. Additionally, workers involved in pandal decoration, lighting, and other festival-related activities are seeing increased activity, with local markets bustling as people begin shopping for the celebrations.
For the people of the haor region, Durga Puja is an important occasion for social interaction and communal harmony, with people from different professions and communities gathering at puja venues to share in the festive spirit. Authorities have emphasized security to ensure peaceful celebrations at all mandaps, with organizers forming volunteer teams, appointing night guards, and maintaining operational CCTV cameras.
Police have arranged security measures that include plainclothes officers, mobile teams, striking forces, and Ansar members, with special surveillance at important and crowded venues. Idol artisan Suresh Das expressed satisfaction with the preparations and public response. Leaders of the district Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Welfare Front and Puja Udjapan Front have coordinated volunteer deployment at each venue for security and management.
District Administrator Mohammad Minhajur Rahman stated that the administration has held meetings with various political and social groups to ensure peaceful celebrations across all upazilas. Superintendent of Police A B M Zakir Hossain highlighted Sunamganj's unique communal harmony and confirmed that all necessary preparations have been taken to facilitate a peaceful Durga Puja celebration.