Hindu communities across Bangladesh will celebrate Kojagori Lokkhi Puja on late night on Monday, with traditional rituals, prayers, and offerings to Goddess Lokkhi seeking peace, prosperity and family well-being.
The festival will be observed simultaneously in homes and temples across the country, as preparations reach final stages in Dhaka and other major cities.
Every year, the full moon night of the Bengali month of Ashwin—known as Sharad Purnima—. Families have begun cleaning and decorating their houses, preparing alpana motifs on courtyards and entrances, and arranging naivedya—offerings of sweets, puffed rice, coconut products like Naru, and fruits—to welcome and worship Lokkhi, the goddess of wealth, light, and fortune.
In towns and rural homesteads alike, lamps and candles will be lit throughout the night, reflecting the traditional belief that Goddess Lokkhi visits those homes that remain awake and devoted.
The worship of Lokkhi is deeply rooted in Bengal’s agrarian culture. Beyond her role as the divine giver of wealth, Lokkhi is regarded as a guardian of fertility, purity, and domestic harmony. In folk tradition, she is portrayed as a gentle, golden-hued deity seated on a lotus, symbolizing prosperity born of hard work and cleanliness.
Many devotees draw paddy stalks and owl symbols in their alpana designs, as the owl is considered her chariot and a sign of foresight and prudence. Some households prepare symbolic granaries of rice to signify abundance and good harvest in the coming season.
Folk Faith and Rituals
In rural Bangladesh, Lokkhi Puja often blends religious devotion with community gatherings and seasonal joy. Villagers erect small shrines under banyan trees, perform group recitations of the Lokkhi’s Panchali (a narrative hymn of her blessings), and offer moong beans, sesame seeds, and milk-based sweets as part of the ritual meal. Devotees traditionally stay awake the entire night in a custom known as Kojagori Broto—derived from the Bengali phrase “Ko Jagore Re?” meaning “Who is awake?”—symbolizing vigilance and purity of heart in welcoming the goddess.
Women take special part in the observance, donning new saris and adorning their homes with oil lamps arranged in geometric patterns. Many families invite neighbours to share bhog, the sacred food offering, emphasizing social unity and community well-being. In temples and Hindu-dominated neighbourhoods across Dhaka, Chattogram, Faridpur, Dinajpur, Khulna and Mymensingh, priests will conduct special arti and mantra recitations Monday evening.
Festive Fair at Shakhari Bazaar
One of the most colourful celebrations will take place in Shakhari Bazaar, the centuries-old Hindu quarter in the heart of Old Dhaka. The narrow historic lane, lined with tall, ornamented brick houses, has already taken on a festive glow. Craftsmen are busy setting up small stalls selling clay idols of Lokkhi, conch-shell bangles, brass lamps, and decorative items. From Sunday evening, devotees and visitors began crowding the area to buy sweets, candles, and offerings, turning the entire street into a vibrant fairground.
Shakhari Bazaar—named after the traditional shankha or conch-bangle makers—has long been a cultural hub for Dhaka’s Hindu community. During major festivals like Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Lokkhi Puja, the neighbourhood transforms into a centre of devotion and festivity. Music, incense, and chanting fill the narrow lanes as devotees line up before beautifully decorated home altars. Residents, many of whom have practiced conch-carving for generations, treat the Lokkhi festival as a family heritage event.
Local police have arranged security and traffic control to manage the large number of visitors expected to attend the Shakhari Bazaar fair this year. Volunteers from community groups will assist in maintaining order and guiding pilgrims through the area’s congested lanes.
Spirit of Devotion and Hope
Religious leaders say the enduring appeal of Lokkhi Puja lies in its message of simplicity and discipline. “Lokkhi visits only the clean, sincere and hardworking—this is the moral of the festival,” said priest Gopal Chandra Sarker of a local Dhakeshwari temple. “People clean not only their homes but also their hearts before she arrives.”
As dusk falls on Monday, lamps will illuminate courtyards, rooftops, and riversides across the country. The sound of conch shells, bells and chants of “Lokkhi Ma esho, esho” will echo through the night. From the narrow lanes of Old Dhaka to the villages of Barishal, Faridpr and Sylhet, millions will stay awake under the autumn moon, praying for a year of harmony, prosperity and renewed hope.
