President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said Sharadiya Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, embodies a call for justice and humanity against injustice, falsehood and inhumanity.
In his message today (16 October), the president extended his heartfelt greetings and congratulations to all Hindu community members at home and abroad on the occasion of the Durga Puja.
"The arrival of the Goddess Durga awakens new hope and a renewed commitment to welfare in the hearts of her devotees. The underlying message of Durga Puja is the destruction of evil forces and the triumph of truth, beauty and welfare," he said.
"The Hindu community in this country has been celebrating Durga Puja for a long time in a festive atmosphere, indicating communal harmony among us," he added.
The President noted that the Durga Puja festival has deeply been intertwined with the enduring social culture and heritage of Bengal alongside being a mere religious festival.
"During this festival, people from all walks of life are bound together by ties of goodwill, mutual empathy and a sense of brotherhood," he said.
He expressed hope that the Durga Puja would be illuminated by the light of truth, beauty, harmony and goodwill, strengthening bonds among all people of all faith.
The president also reiterated the present government's commitment to ensuring the religious freedom and equal rights of all.
"The government is extending support for the management, renovation and development of religious institutions and places of worship of followers of the Sanatan faith, just as it does for institutions of other religions," he said.
"Alongside providing monthly honorariums to priests, initiatives are being taken to further strengthen the activities of the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust and to make religious welfare grants and their management more effective and coordinated," he added.
He called on authorities concerned to ensure an environment where all religious communities could observe their respective religious rituals and festivals spontaneously in a joyful atmosphere.
"Every religion teaches people truth, justice, restraint and the welfare of humanity. It keeps people away from injustice and falsehood and shows them the path to emancipation," he said.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam urged all to follow the tenets of respective religions and offer ourselves to the welfare of humanity.
He also called on all ensure that no one becomes a victim of discrimination, deprivation or insecurity because of religion, caste or communal identity.
Wishing success to all programmes organized on occasion of the Durga Puja, he said, "May Sharadiya Durga Puja bring unbounded happiness, peace and prosperity to the lives of all members of the Hindu community. The message of humanity, justice and welfare will spread to every home during Sharadiya Durga Puja."