Preparations are in full swing across Barishal district and city for Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community.
Artisans and organisers are busy making idols, painting, decorating puja mandaps, installing lights and building decorative arches ahead of the festival.
A total of 637 puja mandaps will host Durga Puja across Barishal district and metropolitan areas this year.
Of these, 590 are in the district and 47 in Barishal city.
Officials concerned said the number of mandaps has increased by one from last year.
The festival will formally begin with Mahalaya on 10 October. Maha Shasthi will be observed on 17 October, Maha Saptami on 18 October, Maha Ashtami on 19 October, Maha Navami on 20 October and Bijoya Dashami on 21 October.
During visits to Falpatti Kalimata Thakurani Temple and Sri Sri Jagannath Temple on Sadar Road in Barishal city, artisans were seen working on idols.
The structure and clay work of most idols have nearly been completed, with painting now among the main remaining tasks.
Preparations are also continuing at puja mandaps across the city, with some organisers completing final work on idols while others are decorating venues, installing lighting and building arches.
Idol artisan Ranjit Pal said the prices of paint and other materials used in idol-making had increased, raising the cost of both construction and decoration.
He said artisans were having to put in extra effort to complete the work on time.
Security measures are also being strengthened ahead of the festival.
Closed-circuit television cameras have been installed at different puja mandaps, while the administration is preparing to increase patrols and surveillance by law enforcement agencies.
Gopal Chandra Saha, general secretary of the Barishal Metropolitan Puja Udjapan Parishad, told BSS that Durga Puja would be held at 47 mandaps in the metropolitan area.
Law enforcement personnel will be deployed at the mandaps, he added.
Manik Mukherjee, president of the Barishal District Puja Udjapan Parishad, told BSS that idol-making, painting and decoration work was progressing quickly with support from the administration.
“Security at the puja mandaps is being given the highest priority. Organisers are also arranging their own security measures, including CCTV cameras. We hope this year’s Durga Puja will be held peacefully and in a festive atmosphere through coordinated efforts by the administration, law enforcement agencies and the Puja Udjapan Parishad,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Barishal district administration held a preparatory meeting on Sunday, 4 October, ahead of Durga Puja.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Md Mamun Khandaker.
Barishal Superintendent of Police AZM Mostafizur Rahman, Additional Deputy Commissioner Salma Parvin, Barishal City Corporation Executive Magistrate Md Raihan Uz Zaman, freedom fighter Nurul Alam Farid, Barishal Chamber of Commerce and Industries Ltd Director Hafizur Rahman Hira and other senior district officials also attended the meeting.
