Preparations for Durga Puja are at the final stage as the celebration of the biggest religious festival of Bangalee Hindu community will begin on October 4, reports BSS.
Ahead of the festival, preparations in all puja pandals are nearing the end with the artisans passing their busy time in giving the final touches on the idols. Pandals are being decorated for the festival across the country. Shopping malls and markets throughout the country, including the capital, are crowded with buyers before Durga Puja.
The annual five-day “Sharodiya Durgotsab” will begin with the incarnation (Bodhon) of the Goddess Durga on the day of Maha Sashthi on October 4. Maha Saptami puja will be performed on October 5, Maha Ashtami on October 6, Maha Navami on October 7 and the festival will end with the immersion of the idols of the Goddess Durga on Bijoya Dashami on October 8.
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP) General Secretary Nirmal Kumar Chattarjee in a press conference on Monday said the Durga Puja will be celebrated in 31,398 permanent and temporary puja mandaps across the country this year. The number of puja mandaps has increased by 483 this year as the total number was 30915 in the last year.
“The number of puja mandaps is increasing every year because of the economic advancement of the country and the security measures taken by the pro-liberation government for the peaceful celebration of the festival,” Nirmal Chattarjee said. BPUP leaders, in the press conference, said the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is promoting non-communal and secular spirit in society that is why the number of puja mandaps has increased across the country.
According to the parishad, a total of 237 puja mandaps will worship Durga Puja in the capital Dhaka while the number of mandaps was 234 in the last year. A total of 7271 mandaps will arrange Durga Puja in Dhaka division, 4456 in Chattogram, 2545 in Sylhet, 4936 in Khulna, 3512 in Rajshahi, 5305 in Rangpur, 1741 in Barishal and 1632 in Mymensingh.
Apart from Chattogram, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Rajshahi, the number of puja mandaps has increased in other four divisions. The highest 1774 puja pandals will be arranged in Chattogram district. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal earlier said security will be beefed up in all puja pandals throughout the country, including the capital, with the deployment of additional squads of Ansars, police, RAB and other law enforcers for peaceful celebration of the festival.
He said closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs), archways and metal detectors will be installed at all puja mandaps across the country. Law enforcers including intelligence personnel will remain alert to thwart the trouble-makers during the Puja celebrations, he added. Dhakeshwari National Temple has chalked different programmes including rendition of devotional songs, distribution of clothes among the poor, distribution of Mohaprosad, Arati competition, voluntary blood donation and bringing out a Bijoya Dashami procession in the city from the temple premises.
Preparations of puja pandals and idols are also at the final stage at Ramkrishna Mission and Math, Ramna Kalimandir O Anandamayee Ashram, Kalabagan, Baradeshwari Kalimata Mandir, Siddheshwari Kalibari, Bholanath Mandir Ashram, Jagannath Hall, Rishipara Gautam Ashram, Gulshan Banani Sarbojonin Puja Parishad, Basabo Balurmath, Bonogram, South Maishundi, Shankhari Bazar, Tanti Bazar, Panitola, Farashganj, North Brook Hall Road, Lalbagh and other places in the city.
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee this year decided that the immersion of idols of Durga Puja would be done by 10 pm on the day of Bijoya Dashami across the country.