Chattogram: Extensive preparations are afoot with great enthusiasm and vigor to celebrate Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community, in the city and district. Puja organizers are busy making idols, constructing pandals, and decorating mandapas colorfully in their respective areas.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, artists and craftsmen are passing tiring days finishing the work on the idols with paints and decorations at the mandapas so that they can complete their duties before the formal beginning of Puja. Now the idols are being given their final shape and are becoming more lifelike. Shuvo Mahalaya, which signals the start of the goddess Pakkha, was celebrated on Sunday. The rituals for the grand religious event of Sharadiya Durga Puja, dedicated to the goddess Durga, who symbolizes the destroyer of evil, have commenced with the invocation of the deity into the mortal world.
The Chattogram District Puja Udjapon Parishad has announced that this year’s festival will start on September 28 with Maha Shashthi and end on October 2 with the immersion of idols on Bijoya Dashami. Advocate Netai Proshad Goash, President of the Chattogram District Puja Udjapon Parishad, stated that a total of 2,485 puja mandaps have been set up in 14 upazilas and in the city. The increased number of mandaps includes small-scale home-based puja arrangements. The number of mandaps this year in 15 thanas under the Chattogram City Corporation is 292.
Durga Puja will commence with the installation of Chandipath and Mangal Ghat in the pavilions of Mahalaya, accompanied by the sound of drums and conch shells to invoke the goddess. Some idols are in the final stages of preparation, with a few already being taken to the pavilions by the Puja Celebration Committee for installation. Law enforcement agencies have made comprehensive security arrangements for the puja celebrations, including the installation of CCTV cameras in most of the places of worship and around the mandaps.
Tapan Pal, an idol artist from the Sadarghat Kalimandir area, mentioned that they began crafting idols four months ago, and they are now in the final stages with some finishing touches being added. The idols are priced between Tk 25,000 and Tk 150,000 each, and around 200 idols have been made this year to meet the demand not only in Chattogram but also in surrounding districts. Bishwajit Pal, an artist from the Enayet Bazar Goalpara area of the city, noted that clay and color work has been completed, and the focus is now on decorating the idols. Jewelry and saris will be added next, with idols created for 14 puja pavilions this year.
Supriya Majumdar Dolan, the General Secretary of the Chattogram District Puja Udjapon Parishad, indicated that the number of public pavilions in the district has increased by 19 mandaps, totaling 2,193 this year. Advocate Nikil Das, leader of the Chattogram City Puja Udjapon Parishad, highlighted that 292 puja mandaps have been established this year, and all preparations for the puja celebration have been completed.
To ensure a smooth celebration, the Power Development Board in Chattogram has taken steps to guarantee an uninterrupted electricity supply at all puja venues. Superintendent of Police Saiful Islam Santo mentioned a three-tier security plan is being implemented throughout the district, with law enforcement personnel consisting of police and Ansars deployed around all puja mandaps. CCTV surveillance will be equipped at most venues for enhanced safety.
The Chattogram Metropolitan Police confirmed similar security measures will be in place across all 292 city mandaps, with more than 3,500 law enforcement personnel deployed. Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanom assured that the administration has finalized comprehensive preparations, including the allocation of 1,264.5 metric tons of rice to support the 2,485 mandaps in both the city and district. Separate central control rooms will be operational to monitor the festival, ensuring peace and religious fervor.