Gaibandha: Preparations for celebrating Durga Puja, the largest religious festival for the Hindu community, are progressing rapidly across the district as the annual event draws nearer. The five-day Sharadiya Durgotsab will commence with the unveiling of the deity’s face on Maha Shasthi on September 28 and will conclude with the immersion of the Goddess Durga’s idols on Bijoya Dashami on October 2.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this year, a total of 585 puja mandaps will be erected across all seven upazilas of the district. General Secretary of the District Puja Celebration Parishad, Bimol Kumar Sarker, highlighted that 101 mandaps will be set up in Sadar upazila, 131 in Sundarganj, 126 in Gobindaganj, 108 in Sadullapur, 61 in Palashbari, 66 in Shaghata, and 14 in Fulchhari upazila.
During visits to various puja mandaps in the district town, artisans, known as Malakars, were observed busy with painting and decorative works to enhance the idols for devotees and visitors. Additionally, an initiative has been undertaken to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the mandaps at night to facilitate puja prayers, archana, kirtons, arati, and other rituals.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Nishat Angella stated that comprehensive security measures have been enforced by law enforcement agencies around all puja mandaps to ensure a peaceful celebration. Police, Ansar, VDP members, and village police will be deployed at each mandap, with the elite force RAB conducting regular patrols. Stern legal actions will be taken against anyone involved in creating disturbances during the puja, she warned.
A preparatory meeting was previously held at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference room on September 22, chaired by DC Choudhury Muazzam Ahmed, to ensure a smooth festival celebration. A decision was made to establish control rooms in each upazila during the festival to monitor the law and order situation, according to sources from the DC office.