Five-day Sharadiya Durgotsob, the biggest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community, will begin today (Sunday), reports BSS.
Preparations were afoot for the annual festival at temples and makeshift puja venues across the country.
On Sunday last, the Hindu community members celebrated Mahalaya inviting Goddess Durga to her paternal home Earth from Kailash (heaven) along with her offspring Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh and Kartik.
The Hindu community believed that Goddess Durga arrives in earth from heaven during the puja. This year she will arrive on an elephant.
As part of last minute preparations for Sharadiya Durgotsab, idol makers and artisans were passing their busiest time in giving the final touch to idols at puja mandaps.
Hindus are waiting eagerly as the puja mondops will be filled with devotional chants with the smoke of dhup, beating of drums (dhak-dhol), kansar-mandira and ululation (uludhoni).
The first day of the festival will begin with the unveiling of the face of the deity on the day of Maha Shashthi today (September 28).
Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Nabami will be celebrated on the next days while the festival will come to an end with immersion of the idols on Bijoya Dashami on October 2.
Chief Adviser (CA) Professor Muhammad Yunus greeted all Hindu citizens of the country on the occasion of Durga Puja.
"On the occasion of Durga Puja, the main religious festival of the Hindu community, I extend my heartiest greetings to all the Hindu citizens of the country," he said in a message on the eve of the festival.
Dr Yunus said destruction of evil forces and adoration of truth and beauty are the main features of the Sharadiyo Durgotsab.
Noting that Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony, he said, "This country belongs to all of us. This country is a safe abode for all people irrespective of caste and religion."
"To successfully implement the progress we have begun through the July mass uprising to build a prosperous country free from discrimination and corruption, everyone must work together, forgetting religious and caste differences," Prof Yunus said.
He said Bangladesh is a unique example of the wonderful harmony of people of all religions and communities. "Regardless of race, religion, and caste, we all are identified as Bangladeshis. I hope that this year's Durga Puja will be celebrated smoothly across the country, upholding this trend of communal harmony, with appropriate enthusiasm and various programmes," he added.
He said peace, friendship and equality are the main tenets of all religions. "The main teaching of all religions is to achieve human welfare. Therefore, in addition to practicing our own religions properly, we must create an environment of peace in society by maintaining mutual respect, honour and compassion among people," the Chief Adviser said.
The chief adviser called upon all to be imbued with the anti-discrimination spirit, keep the bonds of communal harmony intact and build a happy Bangladesh.
He wished peace, welfare and prosperity to all the citizens of Bangladesh.
In the capital, Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Ramna Kali Mondir, Azimpur Government Colony Puja Mondop, Joykali Mondir and Sri Sri Shanidev Mondir in Shankhari Bazar are all abuzz with decoration and lighting work. These iconic locations are aiming to complete their final preparations.
Durga Puja will also be arranged at Banani, Kalabagan, Siddeshwari Kali Mandir, Jagannath Hall on Dhaka University campus, Khamar Bari at Farmgate, Lalbagh Rishipara, Rajarbagh Kalimandir and old part of Dhaka including Tanti Bazar.
Exquisitely crafted and decorated life-size clay idols of the Goddess Durga depicting her slaying the demon Mahishasura are being set up in temples and puja mondops.
Generally, the idols are made diligently and methodically by the artisans to create exquisite pieces of artistry.
Marking the festival, the Hindu community members are also passing busy time in shopping as shopping centers, malls and stores are now crowded with customers.
Basudeb Dhar, President of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, told BSS that the number of puja mondops across the country increased this year.
Durga Puja will be celebrated in a total of 33,355 mondops and temples nationwide, with 258 in Dhaka city.
The interim government has allocated Taka 50 million (five crore) for Durga Puja this year.
To ensure the safety and security of the devotees, police, Ansar, BGB, RAB and other law enforcement agencies will be deployed at puja pandals. Volunteers will also assist the law enforcers at each location.
A central control room will be established at Dhakeshwari Temple, coordinated by the Mohanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee to monitor the security arrangements.
The Cabinet Division has asked the Home Ministry, Education Ministry, Religious Affairs Ministry and other relevant authorities to closely monitor the law and order situation during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations and ensure safe and joyous celebration of the festival.
