Artisans are passing busy times in erecting and coloring idols of goddess Durga to celebrate the five-day Durga Puja, the greatest religious festival of the Sanaton community, from October 1 next in Rangpur division.
Local leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP) said the celebrations will begin from October 1 and end on October 5 next with the 'Bijoya Dashami' rally and immersion of the idols of goddess Durga in water bodies.
Sources at the Divisional Commissioner's Office and Rangpur Range Office of Bangladesh Police said steps have been taken to ensure peaceful celebrations of Durga Puja at all 5,488 mandaps in the division abiding by the health directives amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Adequate numbers of police forces, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-13, Highway Police along with over 30,000 members of Ansar-VDP will be deployed and close circuit cameras be installed at all mandaps to ensure peaceful celebrations of Durga Puja.
Durga Puja will be celebrated at 968 Mandaps in Rangpur, 617 Mandaps in Gaibandha, 532 in Kurigram, 433 in Lalmonirhat, 889 in Nilphamari, 1,285 in Dinajpur, 468 in Thakurgaon and 296 in Panchagarh districts in the division this year.
Deputy Inspector General for Rangpur Range Police Mohd Abdul Alim Mahmud said "We are taking sufficient security measures to ensure peaceful celebrations of Durga Puja at all Puja Mandaps in all eight districts of Rangpur division."
Meanwhile, artisans are now working round the clock to give finishing touches to erected idols of goddess Durga with their innovative artistic creativity and colors to make those more charming, attractive and gorgeous in looks.
Artisan Manoranjan Paul at a temple in Rangpur city said, "I am passing my busiest time to complete the erection of idols of Goddess Durga with artistic creativity and colors."
Artisans Monojeet Paul, Sukumar Paul, Akhil Paul and Shyamol Paul at different Puja mandaps here said they are working round the clock to complete coloring of the erected idols of goddess Durga with artistic inventiveness. Another artisan Anil Paul said he began erecting idols of Mother Durga at 15 Puja Mandaps more than one and a half months ago.
"After completing most of the works, I am giving finishing touches to erected idols with different colors to make those more attractive," Anil added. Artisans Amrita Paul, Upen Paul and Sukumar Paul said their artisan groups are erecting the idols of goddess Durga at different Puja Mandaps in Rangpur city and adjoining areas since last month.
"After completing all major works, our artisans are giving finishing touches to erected idols with different colours to make those more attractive in looks," said Amrita Paul.
Similarly, artisans Bhupen Paul, Abhilas Paul and Sunil Paul at different Mandaps in Nilphamari, Dinajpur and Lalmonirhat said they are now coloring idols of goddess Durga with artistic creativity.
President of Rangpur district unit of BPUP Ajay Prasad Babon expressed satisfaction over the steps being taken by the authorities concerned to ensure peaceful celebrations of the upcoming Durga Puja festivities.
