The five-day Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community, ended today with the immersion of the idols of Goddess Durga and her children in water bodies across the country amid festivity. The process of immersion of the idols started around 4pm today instead of noon due to the Jummah prayers of the Muslim community at that time. The five-day Durga Puja began on October 11 with holding Maha Shasthi puja, Chondipath, incarnation (Bodhon) of the Goddess Durga and Adhibas at temples across the country amid festivity and religious fervor maintaining health guidelines. The puja was performed in temples, homes and in the public, featuring temporary stage decorations. Maha Nabami Puja was celebrated yesterday across the country. Maha Nabami is believed to be the day when Durga defeated the evil Mahishasura and the Nabami rituals begin with a mahasnan and a Shodashopachar puja. Representative of different political and social organizations as well as cabinet members and members of parliament visited different Puja Mandops in the city yesterday. Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader visited the Ramkrishna Math Puja Mandop while State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan visited the Dhakeshwari National Temple during the five-day Durga Puja festival. This year festival was celebrated at 32,118 puja mandaps across the country while the puja was celebrated at 238 puja mandaps in the capital. Durga Puja is the worship of 'Shakti' or divine power embodied in Devi Durga symbolizing the battle between good and evil where the evil forces succumb to the divine forces. According to the Puranas, after fighting with Mahisasur for 9 days and 9 nights, Goddess Durga won on the tenth day. Source: BSS AH

The five-day celebration of Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community, ended today (Monday) with immersion of the Goddess Durga in rivers and water bodies across the country amid festivity and strict hygiene guidelines. The ceremony of bidding farewell to the Goddess in the capital began at around 1:30 pm with the immersion of idols in Buriganga river in Wiseghat area. Most idols of the capital were immersed at Swarighat in Buriganga. Idols were also immersed in the Turag river in Tongi. The Mahanagar Puja Celebration Committee instructed everyone to finish the ‘Bisarjan’ ceremony by 6 pm. Members of the Coast Guard and Fire Service were on standby along with the police to deal with any situation during the evacuation. This year there was no procession for worship. Only the persons, who are required to abandon the idol of a mandap (10 people) are asked to come to the ghat with the idol. Durga Puja is the worship of ‘Shakti’ or divine power embodied in Devi Durga symbolizing the battle between good and evil where the evil forces succumb to the divine forces. According to the Puranas, after fighting with Mahisasur for 9 days and 9 nights, Goddess Durga won on the tenth day. The biggest festival of the Bengali Hindu community, started on Thursday, October 22 this year, following the rules of health through Chandipath, Bodhan and Devi’s abode. There were no cultural events like Shidur Khela, dhunuchi dance competitions, distribution of holy offerings and the procession of Bijaya Dashmi. During the puja, most of the devotees have paid homage in a virtual manner this year, to abide by the health guidelines given by the Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council to stop Coronavirus to spread. The main attraction of Mahaashtami, widely known as ‘Kumari Puja’ held every year at the Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka with the aim of awakening this realization of motherhood in all women, was not held due to the pandemic situation. Today was a public holiday on the occasion of Bijaya Dashami. President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina delivered speeches on the occasion. Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and other private TV channels and radios are broadcasting special programs on the occasion. Besides, national dailies have published special articles on the occasion. Durga Puja was held in 30,223 mandapas across the country this year. Last year, the number of Durga Puja mandapas across the country was 31,398. On the other hand, the number of puja mandapas in Dhaka metropolis this year was 233. Last year, the number was 237. Source: BSS AH

Tens of thousands of Hindus in colorful attires took to the streets Friday beating drums and chanting mantras as five days of revelry and celebration ended in the day with immersion of Devi Durga in rivers and water bodies across the country. In the capital Dhaka, jubilant devotees joined colorful truck processions carrying idols of Durga amid fanfare towards the Buriganga River for immersion when children, the young and the elderly joined hands to slowly put the idols into the water at the climax of the festival, the biggest of the Bengali-speaking followers of Hindu faith. Reports BSS. Durga puja is the worship of ‘Shakti’ or divine power embodied in Devi Durga symbolizing the battle between good and evil where the dark forces eventually succumb to the divine forces. Hindus across the country celebrated Friday the Bijoya Dashami amid festivity and enthusiasm by visiting their relatives’ homes to share sweetmeats when married Hindu women put “sindoor” (vermilion) on each other’s forehead on the occasion. The five-day Durga Puja festival began on Monday with the incarnation (Bodhon) of Goddess Durga on the day of Maha Shashti. Maha Ashtami, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja were performed on October 17 while Maha Nabami Puja was celebrated on Thursday. Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad sources said as many as 31,272 permanent and temporary mandaps were erected in the country, including 234 in the capital city this year. Dhaka Mohanagar Puja Udjapan Committee said alongside the Buriganga river, hundreds of Hindu devotees thronged the Turag, the Shitalakkhya and the Balu rivers in the capital for immersion of Goddess Durga. Carrying the idol of Goddess Durga on their shoulder, devotees went waist-deep water into the rivers, ponds and water bodies and immersed the mother deity. AH