Durga Puja begins with Maha Shashti in Bangladesh

Five-day Sharadiya Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community, began across the country today (28 September).

On Sunday last week, 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.

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The Hindu community believes that Goddess Durga arrives in earth from heaven during the puja. This year she will arrive on an elephant.

The first day of the festival began with the unveiling of the face of the deity on the day of Maha Shashthi.

Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami and Maha Nabami will be celebrated on the next days while the festival will come to an end with the immersion of the idols on Bijoya Dashami on 2 October. 

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.

Durga Puja is being 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 were 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. 

Basudeb Dhar, President of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, told BSS that the number of puja mandaps across the country has increased this year.

Durga Puja is being celebrated in a total of 33,355 mandaps and temples nationwide, with 258 in Dhaka city.

The interim government has allocated Taka 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 are being deployed at puja pandals. Volunteers are also assisting the law enforcers at each location.

A central control room has been 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 Durga Puja celebrations and ensure safe and joyous celebration of the festival.

Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today said that around one lakh members of the armed forces, 70,000 police, over two lakh Ansar, and 430 platoons of BGB have been deployed across the country to ensure peaceful, festive, and safe celebrations of Durga Puja.

"A total of 2,03,564 Ansar personnel have been deployed centering the Durga Puja. Apart from them, 70,000 police personnel, one lakh armed forces personnel, and 430 platoons of BGB have been engaged to ensure peaceful and joyous celebrations of the Durga Puja," he said.

He was speaking to journalists after coming out of the Core Committee meeting on law and order at the Home Ministry in Bangladesh Secretariat here.

To make the security foolproof, intelligence surveillance has been increased around risky puja mandaps across the country, he added.

Replying to a query, the Home Adviser said there is no apprehension of any security threat during the Durga Puja celebrations.

"This year's Durga Puja will be held in a festive and peaceful manner," he said.

Referring to his visits to Puja Mandaps in Dhaka, Chattogram, Narayanganj, and Munshiganj, he said that everything was found to be in order, and no complaints regarding security risks were reported.