Maha Ashtami, known as Kumari Puja, the third day of the five-day Durga Puja of the Hindu community, was celebrated yesterday with much enthusiasm and religious fervor at temples across the country following health guidelines amid the corona pandemic.
As per the directives of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP), most of the devotees offered Anjali (worship) yesterday virtually from their houses through Television and Facebook live while some devotees offered it at tramples maintaining health guidelines.
A mood of festivity was being witnessed among the devotees irrespective of ages marking the festival following strict health guidelines.
Besides, adequate security measures have been taken in the puja pandaps across the country.
The goddess Durga is worshipped in various forms during the five-day Sharodiya Durgotsab and one of those was worshiping Kumari as an epitome of virginity. But this year Kumari puja was not held at the city’s Ramkrishna Mission temple to avoid mass gathering of devotees due to Covid-19- pandemic.
Recitation of verses from the holy Chandi, blowing of conch shells and beating of ‘dhak-dhols’ at temples and pandals are being continued from Maha Shashti which will continue till immersion of idols of goddess Durga on 26 October. Maha Nabami Puja will be celebrated today across the country while Bijoya Dashami on Monday.
Maha Navami is believed to be the day when Durga defeated the evil Mahishasura and the Navami rituals begin with a mahasnan and a shodashopachar puja.
Other rituals on the day of navami include Durga balidan which is performed at Apaharana kaal on the day of Navami and Navami Homa which usually marks the end of the Navami puja.
The five-day festival began on Thursday with the incarnation (Bodhon) of the Goddess Durga on the day of Maha Shashti.
The biggest religious festival of Hindus will come to an end with the immersion of the idols of the goddess Durga in the nearby rivers and water bodies across the country on the day of Bijoya Dashami on 26 October.
According to the BPUP, Durga Puja is being celebrated at 30,223 permanent and temporary puja mandaps across the country this year.
In Dhaka city, the largest number of crowd of devotees was seen at Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramkrishna Mission Math, Kalabagan, Banani, Shakhari Bazar and Dhaka University Jagannath Hall puja mandaps.
Security has been beefed up at all Puja pandals throughout the country, including the capital, with the deployment of additional squads of Ansars, police, RAB and other law enforcers for peaceful celebration of the festival.
Besides, voluntary groups will also perform duties at the puja pandals.
