Chandpur:Thousands of devotees have congregated at the historic Shri Shri Meher Kalibari temple in Shahrashti upazila to celebrate Shyama Puja and Deepavali. The centuries-old temple has become a vibrant center for religious festivities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the month-long traditional Kalibari fair has also commenced at the nearby Nijmeher Pilot High School playground. The fair attracts crowds with stalls offering household essentials, handicrafts, agricultural equipment, food, and entertainment for children.
Recognized as Asia's largest Kalibari, the temple draws thousands each year for Kali Puja and Deepavali on the new moon of the Bengali month of Kartik. The main worship began on Sunday morning and concluded this morning. The fair includes stalls selling toys, handicrafts, furniture, and food, highlighting the region's folk heritage.
Visitors such as Amal Das from Noakhali, Liton Chakraborty from Narayanganj, and Haradhan Sutradhar from Brahmanbaria regard the temple as a sacred spiritual center. Swapan Karmakar Mithun, a local resident, noted the temple's nearly 700-year religious significance, mentioning that Thakur Sarbananda Debsharma's meditation at the site led to its recognition as a Siddha Peeth.
Nikhil Majumder, general secretary of the temple committee, emphasized the festival's over 300-year history, celebrating both religious and folk traditions.