Sonia H Moni
Small traders at Shankhari Bazar, in the old town, have drawn lot of customers on the eve of Saraswati Puja as the Hindu devotees gathered there to purchase items related with the religious festival.
Most of the shops in the area were seen packed with people, particularly students, as the festival is mainly observed in educational institutions.
The festival is being celebrated today (Wednesday) to pay obeisance to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, learning and arts. Hindus in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm.
Saraswati Puja is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Magh. The day is called 'Vasant Panchami' or 'Sree Panchami'. It is believed that on this day, goddess Saraswati was born.
She carries a 'kachchhapi vina' and is mounted on a swan. Saraswati is also known as Bharati or Vinapani.
The devotees came to Shankhari Bazar to purchase different types of puja-related items like idol and its accessories, flowers including Palash, wood apple leaves, twigs, mango wood, ink and mud pot, different kinds of flowers and vermilion etc.
Pallab Paul, an idol sculptor seller, said, "I have different types of idols of Maa Saraswati. I charge Tk 80 to Tk 12,000 for different sizes of idols depending on design and ornamentation."
On the Dhaka University campus, the Saraswati Puja is to be celebrated in Jagannath Hall, Bangladesh-Kuwait Moitri Hall, Rokeya Hall, Shamsunnahar Hall and Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall.
The main venue is established in the playground of Jagannath Hall where around 50 colourful Mondops have been decorated by the students.
Small traders do brisk business in old Dhaka
FE Team | Published: January 20, 2010 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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