Film actress Puja Cherry's mother Jharna Roy passes away. She breathed her last at his home in Mirpur on Sunday (24 March) at around 11 am. According to some sources, Jharna Roy was suffering from illness. Abdul Aziz, the chief executive officer of Jaaz Multimedia, confirmed the news of the death of the actress's mother. Abdul Aziz said that Jharna Roy had been suffering from illness for a long time from various medical conditions. She was a diabetic patient and her diabetes level had increased as well. A few weeks ago, her physical condition started deteriorating. As a result, she was taken to a hospital in Mirpur. There she underwent treatment for 15 days with seven days in an ICU. When she recovered, she was taken home when her condition improved.  However, Pooja made her debut in film as a child artist in the movie 'Bhalobashar Rong'. Later in 2018, she made her debut as a heroine on the big screen with 'Noor Jahan'.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reassured the Hindu community of the country that Bangladesh Awami League (AL) will always remain beside them as in the past on Saturday, October 22.   "We, Awami League was always beside you (Hindu community), and will remain beside you . . ," she said while addressing the Hindu devotees during her visit to the Durga Puja Mandop at the Dhakeshwari National Temple this afternoon. Reports BSS   PM said the Hindu community of the country has repeatedly been attacked, but Awami League always stood beside them.   In this regard, she referred to attack, repression and torture on the Hindu community in the country in 1992 and after 2001. She said Bangladesh was even pushed back from the spirit of secularism after the brutal killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.   The premier extended her greetings to Hindu community members at home and abroad on their sacred religious festival Sharadiya Durga Utsab and said, "Religion is for individuals, but festival is for all."

Mahalaya, an auspicious occasion that heralds the advent of Goddess Durga, is being celebrated at the dawn today through different rituals by Hindu community members across the country. (BSS Reports) With the beginning of 'Devipaksha', Mahalaya is observed six days before Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community. Usually, the Devi Paksha commences with Mahalaya Amavasya.  According to Hindu mythology, Mahalaya marks the last day of 'Krishnapaksha', which is a dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin. In the Indian state of West Bengal, Mahalaya is depicted in a show-tell manner, with songs, enactments and dances on regional television channels. The television show is also viewed by a lot of people specially children in Bangladesh at the dawn on the day of Mahalaya. The most popular rendition of it, however, has been in the sonorous recorded voice of legendary narrator and radio broadcaster Birendra Krishna Bhadra, whose rendition of mantras from holy book Sri Sri Chandi along with songs performed by others called Mahishasura Mardini are played customarily at the dawn of Mahalaya day in every Bengali household mostly in West Bengal as well as in Bangladesh. Marking the day, special programmes of Mahalaya has been arranged at different temples across the country, including the capital, today at dawn. Hindus will remember and pay homage to their ancestors, who passed away, by performing puja, and offering the Brahmins clothes, food and sweets in their name. Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee held a special programme marking the Mahalaya at Dhakeshwari National Temple at 6am. Gulshan-Banani Sarbajanin Puja Foundation held a programme to welcome Goddess Durga at 5.30am at Banani playground. Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has attended the event as the chief guest. 

The Hindu community is set to celebrate Saraswati Puja, worshiping the goddess of knowledge, music, art and culture, across the country tomorrow (Saturday), maintaining health safety guidelines.    In separate messages, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today greeted the members of the Hindu community on the occasion of the Saraswati Puja.    In his message, President Abdul Hamid said Saraswati Puja is one of the most popular religious festivals in Bangladesh.   The participation of all in this festival irrespective of religion, caste and community has added a different dimension to the non-communal consciousness and tradition of this country, he said, adding that human civilisation is gradually being developed through the practice of knowledge.   Devotees perform this puja with an aim of gaining the grace of Sri Sri Saraswati Devi in acquiring knowledge, the President said.   He hoped that being enlightened through the light of knowledge, every one of the country will be freed from communalism, ignorance and cowardice and they will come forward to build a prosperous and developed society.    Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said Goddess Saraswati is the symbol of truth, justice and enlightenment, while she is the bearer of knowledge, words and melody.    On this occasion, she urged all members of the Hindu community to devote themselves to the advancement of the country by acquiring knowledge.    Sheikh Hasina requested all to observe the puja following the health guidelines and maintaining social distancing in this critical time of coronavirus.    On the day of Saraswati Puja, children are traditionally introduced to education and learning and this ritual is called "Hatekhori". Toddlers are usually given a slate and chalk to scribble with on the auspicious day.   Major Hindu temples, schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions stage the festival with traditional gaiety and religious fervor.    The students in particular seek blessings of goddess Saraswati in their pursuit of knowledge, art, music and culture.   The most decorative and gorgeous celebration of Saraswati Puja is usually arranged on the premises of Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University where a huge number of devotees and crowd throng to perform the religious rituals and visit the pandals circled on the playground of the university's largest dormitory.   The rituals of Saraswati Puja will begin tomorrow morning at temples and educational institutions and residences followed by offering of 'Anjali', distribution of Prashad, cultural function, discussion and rendering of devotional songs.   Then children will be imparted "Hatekhori" (introduction to learning) and later prashad (foodstuff devoted to the goddess) will be distributed among the devotees.   According to Hindu faith, goddess Saraswati represents power, creativity and inspiration and presents herself when the weather is pleasant and nature is in its full grandeur.    Depicted as a graceful goddess with a crescent moon adorning her brow, she is shown riding a swan or a peacock or is seated on a lotus flower.   The Puja will also be arranged at Dhakeswari National Temple, Jagannath Hall, Ram Krishna Mission, Siddheswari Temple, Farashganj, Shakhari Bazar, Tanti Bazar and different other places in old Dhaka, Banani, Ramna Kali Mandir and Maa Anandamayi Ashram and different educational institutions in the city. Source: BSS AH

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 government has deployed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at different districts across the country with an objective to keep law and order situation stable during the Durga Puja, a religious festival of the Hindu community.   The paramilitary forces have been started their works from Wednesday.    "In line with the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the members of the BGB are being deployed at different districts throughout the country as per the demand of district administrations aiming to ensure security of the Durga Puja festival," confirmed by BGB Director (Operation) Lieutenant Colonel Faizur Rahman to BSS today.   The required BGB members so far have been deployed in 22 districts including Cumilla, Narshingdi and Munshiganj, he said. The BGB will be deployed in the capital as per the demand place by concerned authority.    The BGB members will patrol the Hindu temple and its adjacent areas. The BGB will assist other forces while they will engage in the field. 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

Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community, begins on Monday with the incarnation (Bodhon) of goddess Durga at temples across the country, marking Sashthi. The five-day puja will come to an end with the immersion of idols of goddess Durga in rivers and other water bodies on October 19. Preparations have already been completed for smoothly celebrating the religious festival. The Mahasaptami puja will be held on Tuesday (October 16) while Mahashtami, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja on Wednesday (October 17), Mahanabami puja on Thursday (October 18) and Biyoya Dashami will be held on Friday (October 19).   On Sunday, devotees and artisans were seen busy taking the last moment preparations and tastefully decorating the temples and pandals across the country. Throughout the day on Monday, recitation of the verses from the Holy Chandi and blowing of conch shells (Shankha) and beating of drums will be heard in temples and pandals in the city and elsewhere. Draped in new dresses, a large number of devotees irrespective of ages will throng the city pandals, particularly at Dhakeshwari National Temple, and offer prayers before goddess Durga seeking divine blessings for peace, prosperity and welfare of the country and its people. Adequate security measures have been taken for smooth celebrations of the festival.   Additional members of police, Ansar, Rapid Action Battalion and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed in puja mandaps to ensure a full-proof security. In separate messages, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the members of the country's Hindu community marking the festival. Source: UNB  AH