Sharidiya Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of Sanatan Dharma followers, begins on Saturday (October 1). This Durgotsavam will start with Shashthi Puja. The five-day festival will conclude on Wednesday (October 5) with the immersion of idols on Vijaya Dashami.
Already, elaborate preparations have been made across the country to make this festival a joyous one. The mood of the festival is blowing all over the country, various temples are buzzing with the sound of drums and brass and conch shells.
According to Ramakrishna Mission schedule, Shashthi Puja will be completed on Saturday (October 1) at 7.30 am with Kalparambha and Bodhan invitation at Sayangkale. All mandap areas will be busy with Chandipath from this morning.
Mahasapthami Puja will be held on Sunday (October 2) at 6.30 am on the second day of the festival.
On Monday (October 3), Maha Ashtami Puja will be held at 9:30 am and Kumari Puja will be held at 11 am. Sandhi Puja will begin on Monday at 4:44 PM and end at 5:32 PM.
Navami Puja will begin at 6:30 am on Tuesday (October 4). Pushpanjali at 10.30 am. The next day on Wednesday at 6:30 am Dasami Puja begins, Pushpanjali at 8 am. The pooja will end and the mirror will be removed by 8:50 am. After evening-aratrik, all the arrangements will end with idol worship and drinking of Shantijal.
Meanwhile, the last minute shopping of the puja is resounding with the scent of incense and vermilion and the sound of brass-conchs. Buyers are gathering to buy Alta, Bangles, Tip.
This year Durga Puja is being celebrated in 32 thousand 168 mandaps across the country. Last year, the number of pujamandaps across the country was 32 thousand 118. The number of pavilions in Dhaka city is 241, which is six more than last year.
On the occasion of Durga Puja, Police, Ansar, BGB, and other law enforcement agencies are responsible for the security of each pujamandap in 7 places such as Betura, Paglapir Bazar, Burir Hat, Gopalpur, Pakura, Manikpara, Sankapani in different areas of Bhandara Union No. 6. Besides, almost every Mandape has a volunteer team of Sanatan Dharma members in charge of security.
A central control room has been opened at the initiative of Sarvajan Puja Committee. Known as the central puja festival, devotional music will be performed along with puja in the mandap of the temple.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of Durga Puja, President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages extended their warm greetings to all Hindu citizens of the country.
In his speech, the President wished to strengthen the bond of harmony and amity among all irrespective of caste and religion, saying that along with religious festivals, Durga Puja plays an important role in creating mutual solidarity and unity among the people of the country. May the autumnal Durgo Festival shine with the light of truth and beauty.
The Prime Minister said in his speech that Durga Puja is not only a festival of the Hindu community, it is now a universal festival. Destruction of evil forces and worship of truth and beauty are the main features of Sharadiya Durgotsava.
The Bangladesh Puja Celebrations Parishad, Metropolitan Universal Puja Celebrations Committee has wished all the citizens of the country irrespective of caste and religion, including the Hindu community, on the occasion of Sharadiya Durga Puja.