Pirojpur:A spectacular display of 160 idols, including a pair of Durga idols, has turned the historic Raj Mandir in Pirojpur into one of the biggest attractions of this year's Sharadiya Durga Puja celebrations in southern Bangladesh. Located in Kabutarkhali village under Gulishakhali union of Mathbaria upazila, the temple has drawn widespread attention for its elaborate arrangements and featuring terracotta idols. The organisers say the scale and design of the installation makes it an exceptional attraction for devotees and visitors from across the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the temple is preparing to welcome visitors during the five-day festival, with devotees expected to arrive from different parts of Bangladesh and abroad, including India, England, Nepal, and the United States. Across Pirojpur, the festive atmosphere has spread ahead of the main Durga Puja rituals, which will begin tomorrow with Maha Shashthi. A total of 462 puja mandaps across the district's seven upazilas will host the festival this year.
The centrepiece of the celebrations at Raj Mandir is an expansive pavilion housing 160 idols of gods and goddesses, arranged in rows across the temple grounds. This display depicts different forms of Goddess Durga and other deities, offering visitors an opportunity to experience a distinctive blend of religious tradition and artistic expression. Around 20 workers spent six months preparing the idols for this year's celebrations. According to organisers, the terracotta-style idols, inspired by Indian art, have added a new dimension to the temple's annual festivities.
Dr. Sudip Kumar Halder, an orthopaedic specialist and founder of Raj Mandir, stated that the initiative seeks to promote positive thinking, humanity, and social harmony alongside religious devotion. Photographs of eminent personalities and inspirational messages have also been displayed on trees and in surrounding areas to encourage people, regardless of religion or social background, to embrace human values.
Although Raj Mandir began its activities in 2010, the annual Durga Puja celebrations featuring idols were introduced in 2016 by Sudip Kumar Halder and his wife, Snigdha, with 40 idols. The scale of the arrangements has expanded every year since then, reaching 160 idols this year and establishing the temple as a major religious and cultural attraction in the Barishal division. Temple Secretary Sumon Halder said Raj Mandir had become one of the largest Durga Puja venues in the southern region, with several lakh people expected to visit during the festival.
Beyond its elaborate religious arrangements, Raj Mandir has placed special emphasis on public welfare, making social services an integral part of the celebrations. Meanwhile, the district administration and police have taken extensive measures to ensure peaceful and festive celebrations at all 462 mandaps. According to district administration and police sources, most puja venues have been brought under CCTV surveillance, with special security arrangements planned for idol immersion. Several coordination meetings have been held with puja organisers to ensure a smooth celebration.
Pirojpur Superintendent of Police Muhammad Talebur Rahman said that the district police had taken adequate security measures to ensure that devotees could celebrate the festival peacefully. Deputy Commissioner Md Golam Rabbani noted that mobile courts led by executive magistrates and additional security measures would remain in place throughout the celebrations. The district administration has also allocated 600 kilograms of government rice to each puja mandap under the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
Dilip Kumar Mistry, president of the District Puja Celebration Front, expressed hope that the festival would be celebrated in a joyful atmosphere, preserving the region's long-standing tradition of communal harmony. With its extraordinary display of idols, growing popularity, and wide-ranging welfare programs, Raj Mandir is poised to be a major highlight of this year's Durga Puja, while people across Pirojpur look forward to celebrating the festival in peace, harmony, and festive spirit.