bdnews24.com :
Celebrations of Durga Puja, the biggest annual religious festival of the Hindus in Bangladesh, have started across the country.
The rituals started at 8:23am on Friday by welcoming Goddess Durga with much fanfare and gusto at Dhakeshwari National Temple in Old Dhaka. The day marks Maha Shashthhi, the sixth day of the moon when the Goddess Durga comes down to the Earth from the Heaven to establish peace, harmony by annihilating evil forces, according to Hindu faith.
The five-day religious extravaganza will come to an end with the immersion of the goddess’ idols in water bodies on Oct 11. The Maha Saptami puja will be held today; Maha Ashtami, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja on Sunday; Maha Nabami Puja on Monday and Bijoya Dashami on Tuesday.
According to Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad, a total 29,395 pavilions or mandaps have been set up across the country including 229 in Dhaka. The chief priest of the Dhakeshwari temple, Ronjit Chakraborthy, said: “We welcomed the goddess with sixteen holy items.”
This year, the Goddess has arrived and will depart on a horse which symbolises increased tension and raises possibilities of political instability, anarchy, civil war and natural calamities, according to Hindu scripture.
Fearing earthquake, Ronjit said: “We are anticipating earthquake this year. But we pray that mother Durga protects us from all kinds of disasters.” Puja Udjapon Parishad General Secretary Syamal Kumar Roy said: “Human beings have been fighting evil since the dawn of civilization. That spirit of struggle is transmitted through the Sharodiyo Durgotshob. Mother Durga shows us the way towards enlightenment by defeating the Asur.” “The call for destroying evil is not limited to any particular religion, caste, time frame or geographical boundary,” he added. Roy informed that Maha Saptami puja will start at 8:57am on Saturday.
‘Mahasnan’ (great bathing) will take place on the Oshtomi, (Sunday). ‘Kumari Puja’-a symbolic presentation of motherly Durga-which is another significant ritual of the festival, will be held on the same day.
The Nabami comes on the following day which includes ‘Ayudha Puja’ when everyone gives their tools of the trade – pens, books, school work, automobiles and machinery – a rest worships them according to rituals.
The rituals will end on ‘Bijoya Dashami’ on Tuesday when the devotees will bring out a “Bijoy Shobhajatra” (victory procession) at 4pm to bid Durga a tearful goodbye by immersing her at Waizghat in old town.
Regarding security measures, Roy told bdnews24.com, “The home ministry is strictly monitoring the venues. Police officials are deployed at all the mandaps.” However, he stressed on avoiding bigotry and communalism in order to ensure security during such religious festivals and convened people from all walks of life to work in that regard. Lighting, blood donation campaigns, cultural programmes and discussions will be held every day during celebrations at the mandaps.
Celebrations of Durga Puja, the biggest annual religious festival of the Hindus in Bangladesh, have started across the country.
The rituals started at 8:23am on Friday by welcoming Goddess Durga with much fanfare and gusto at Dhakeshwari National Temple in Old Dhaka. The day marks Maha Shashthhi, the sixth day of the moon when the Goddess Durga comes down to the Earth from the Heaven to establish peace, harmony by annihilating evil forces, according to Hindu faith.
The five-day religious extravaganza will come to an end with the immersion of the goddess’ idols in water bodies on Oct 11. The Maha Saptami puja will be held today; Maha Ashtami, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja on Sunday; Maha Nabami Puja on Monday and Bijoya Dashami on Tuesday.
According to Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad, a total 29,395 pavilions or mandaps have been set up across the country including 229 in Dhaka. The chief priest of the Dhakeshwari temple, Ronjit Chakraborthy, said: “We welcomed the goddess with sixteen holy items.”
This year, the Goddess has arrived and will depart on a horse which symbolises increased tension and raises possibilities of political instability, anarchy, civil war and natural calamities, according to Hindu scripture.
Fearing earthquake, Ronjit said: “We are anticipating earthquake this year. But we pray that mother Durga protects us from all kinds of disasters.” Puja Udjapon Parishad General Secretary Syamal Kumar Roy said: “Human beings have been fighting evil since the dawn of civilization. That spirit of struggle is transmitted through the Sharodiyo Durgotshob. Mother Durga shows us the way towards enlightenment by defeating the Asur.” “The call for destroying evil is not limited to any particular religion, caste, time frame or geographical boundary,” he added. Roy informed that Maha Saptami puja will start at 8:57am on Saturday.
‘Mahasnan’ (great bathing) will take place on the Oshtomi, (Sunday). ‘Kumari Puja’-a symbolic presentation of motherly Durga-which is another significant ritual of the festival, will be held on the same day.
The Nabami comes on the following day which includes ‘Ayudha Puja’ when everyone gives their tools of the trade – pens, books, school work, automobiles and machinery – a rest worships them according to rituals.
The rituals will end on ‘Bijoya Dashami’ on Tuesday when the devotees will bring out a “Bijoy Shobhajatra” (victory procession) at 4pm to bid Durga a tearful goodbye by immersing her at Waizghat in old town.
Regarding security measures, Roy told bdnews24.com, “The home ministry is strictly monitoring the venues. Police officials are deployed at all the mandaps.” However, he stressed on avoiding bigotry and communalism in order to ensure security during such religious festivals and convened people from all walks of life to work in that regard. Lighting, blood donation campaigns, cultural programmes and discussions will be held every day during celebrations at the mandaps.
