Durga Puja begins with Maha Sashthi today

Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community, will begin today (Thursday) with Maha Sashthi puja at temples across the country amid festivity and religious fervour following the prescribed health guidelines in face of the global pandemic coronavirus, reports BSS.

On the occasion, preparations at all the puja mandaps have nearly been completed as artisans are busy giving final touches to the idols and pandals across the country marking the festival.

The five-day long Durga Puja celebration will begin with the unveiling of the face of the deity and Kalparambho on the day of Maha Sashthi and conclude on October 26 with the immersion of the idols.

Meanwhile, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have felicitated the Hindu community in separate messages on the occasion of Durga Puja.

In his message, the President said, "The main religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community is Durga Puja. The country's Hindu community has been celebrating the puja amid huge enthusiasm and festivity with different rituals since ancient time."

Durga Puja is not only a religious festival, but also a social one, he added.

The Prime Minister, in her message, said Durga Puja is not only a festival of the Hindu community, rather today it has turned into a universal festival.

Destruction of evil spirits and the worship of truth and beauty are the main features of the Durgotshob (Durga festival), she added.

Noting that Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony since ancient time, the premier said, "We celebrate all religious festivals together being imbued with the motto 'Religion for individuals, festival for all' in Bangladesh."