Sharadiya Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Bengali Hindu community, began across Bangladesh today with Kalparambha and Bihita Puja rituals marking the start of the celebrations on Maha Shashthi.
The rituals were held in the morning at Dhakeshwari National Temple in Dhaka, formally commencing the festival, which will continue until October 21, Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee General Secretary Suvasish Kumar Biswas Sadhan said.
On Maha Shashthi, devotees perform Bodhan, the ceremonial awakening and invocation of Goddess Durga, marking the formal beginning of the festivities.
The main rituals will begin on Maha Saptami tomorrow. This year, the Saptami tithi spans two days, Saturday and Sunday, according to the Bengali calendar.
Maha Saptami will feature the Nabapatrika ritual, during which nine plants representing different forms of the goddess are ceremonially bathed and worshipped.
Maha Ashtami will be observed on Monday, featuring Sandhi Puja, which takes place during the transition between Ashtami and Navami. Maha Navami will follow with major worship rituals and the offering of bhog.
On Bijoya Dashami, October 21, devotees will bid farewell to Goddess Durga and take the idols in processions to designated rivers, ponds and other water bodies for immersion, known as Bisarjan.
Across the country, temples and temporary puja mandaps have been prepared to welcome worshippers and visitors. Organisers have been completing pandal construction and decoration, installing idols, arranging lighting and preparing religious and cultural programmes.
The government has extended the Durga Puja holiday to three days through an executive order, responding to a longstanding demand from the Hindu community. Combined with the regular Friday and Saturday weekend, the extension will provide a five-day break from October 20 to 24.
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad President Basudeb Dhar welcomed the decision and thanked the prime minister for extending the holiday.
The government has also increased funding for Durga Puja mandaps to Tk 5 crore from Tk 4 crore following directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
The number of puja mandaps nationwide has risen by nearly 1,500 from last year to 33,851, according to the information provided by the organisers and authorities.
Authorities have announced enhanced security arrangements to ensure the safety of worshippers and visitors throughout the celebrations. A mobile application previously used by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center will be deployed to strengthen monitoring and facilitate the rapid sharing of information about any untoward incidents.
The Home Ministry has also instructed the relevant authorities to ensure uninterrupted electricity supplies at puja venues. Mandap organisers have been asked to keep generators on standby around the clock and maintain rechargeable lights as backup in case of power outages or generator failures.
The festival carries deep religious and cultural significance for Bangladesh’s Hindu community. It commemorates Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon king Mahishasura and symbolises the triumph of good over evil.
According to Hindu mythology, Mahishasura became a threat to the gods after receiving a boon that made him invulnerable to men. The gods combined their divine powers to create Goddess Durga, who fought and defeated him.
Mahalaya, which heralds the advent of Goddess Durga, was observed on October 10 through various rituals.
Durga Puja is celebrated not only as a major religious occasion but also as an important part of Bangladesh’s cultural heritage. The festival brings together members of the Hindu community and people of other faiths, reflecting the country’s tradition of communal harmony and peaceful coexistence.