Dhaka: Five-day Sharadiya Durgotsob, the biggest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community, began across the country today. On Sunday last, the Hindu community members celebrated Mahalaya, inviting Goddess Durga to her paternal home earth from Kailash, along with her offspring Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh, and Kartik. The Hindu community believes that Goddess Durga arrives on earth from heaven during the puja and this year she is expected to arrive on an elephant. The festival’s first day commenced with the unveiling of the deity’s face on Maha Shashthi, followed by celebrations on Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, and Maha Nabami, concluding with the immersion of idols on Bijoya Dashami on October 2.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, various temples and puja mondops, including Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramakrishna Math and Mission, and Ramna Kali Mondir in the capital, are abuzz with decorations and lighting. Durga Puja is being organized at prominent locations such as Banani, Kalabagan, and Siddeshwari Kali Mandir. The festival features exquisitely crafted life-size clay idols of Goddess Durga, depicting her slaying the demon Mahishasura, made with meticulous artistry by skilled artisans.
Basudeb Dhar, President of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, informed BSS that the number of puja mondops has increased this year, with Durga Puja being celebrated in a total of 33,355 mondops and temples nationwide, including 258 in Dhaka city. The interim government has allocated Taka five crore for the celebrations. To ensure the safety of devotees, law enforcement agencies, including police, Ansar, BGB, and RAB, are deployed at puja pandals, supported by volunteers. A central control room has been set up at Dhakeshwari Temple to monitor security arrangements.
Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that around one lakh armed forces members, 70,000 police, over two lakh Ansar personnel, and 430 platoons of BGB have been deployed nationwide to ensure peaceful celebrations. Intelligence surveillance has been heightened around risky puja mandaps, and the Home Adviser assured that there is no security threat during the celebrations. He also urged the media to effectively counter rumors and misinformation spread by elements opposed to the peaceful conduct of the festival.