Dhaka: Five-day Sharadiya Durgotsob, noted as the largest religious festival for the Bangalee Hindu community, is set to commence on Sunday, with meticulous preparations taking place at temples and makeshift puja mondops nationwide. On the previous Sunday, members of the Hindu community celebrated Mahalaya, inviting Goddess Durga to earth from Kailash, accompanied by her children-Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh, and Kartik.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this year, the community believes that Goddess Durga will arrive on an elephant. Idol makers and artisans are currently occupied with finalizing the idols at puja mandaps as part of last-minute preparations. Devotees eagerly await the festivities, which will be marked by devotional chants, the aroma of dhup, drumbeats, and ululation.
The festival will open with the unveiling of the deity’s face on Maha Shashthi, September 28. The celebrations will continue with Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, and Maha Nabami, concluding with the immersion of idols on Bijoya Dashami, October 2. In Dhaka, prominent sites like Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramakrishna Math and Mission, and others are bustling with decoration and lighting.
Durga Puja arrangements will also take place in Banani, Kalabagan, and various other locations across Dhaka. Life-size, intricately decorated clay idols of Goddess Durga, depicting her victory over the demon Mahishasura, are being installed. Artisans craft these idols with precision to create artistic masterpieces.
In conjunction with the festival, Hindu community members are actively shopping, filling centers, malls, and stores with eager customers. Basudeb Dhar, President of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, mentioned that the number of puja mondops has increased nationwide, with 33,355 total mondops and temples, including 258 in Dhaka city.
The interim government has allocated Tk 5 crore for this year’s Durga Puja. Law enforcement agencies, including police, Ansar, BGB, and RAB, will be deployed to ensure safety, with volunteers providing additional support. A central control room at Dhakeshwari Temple will oversee security, coordinated by the Mohanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee.
The Cabinet Division has instructed the Home Ministry, Education Ministry, Religious Affairs Ministry, and other authorities to closely monitor the situation, ensuring a safe and joyous celebration of Durga Puja.