Sharadiya Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, has commenced across Rajbari district on Friday with olemn performance of Maha Sasthi rituals.
This year, the festival is being celebrated at 464 mandaps across five upazilas in the district, reflecting an increase of 21 mandaps compared to last year.
Since early morning, worship venues across Rajbari have reverberated with the recitation of Chandi path, the beating of dhaks (traditional drums), and the ringing of cymbals (kansa), as devotees gather at temples to invoke Goddess Durga.
Following the scriptural traditions of Akalbodhan (awakening the sleeping deity), the formal celebration started on Friday through Maha Sasthi Adhibas, marked by Bodhan and special worship rituals.
Although Durga Puja is traditionally observed over five days from Maha Sasthi to Vijaya Dashami, this year’s festival will run for six days as Maha Saptami tithi spans across two days.
According to the calendar, Maha Saptami will be celebrated on Saturday, followed by Maha Saptami (Adhik Puja) on Sunday, Maha Ashtami and Kumari Puja on Monday, Maha Navami on Tuesday, and Vijaya Dashami on Wednesday, which will conclude the festival with the solemn immersion of idols.
Earlier on 10 October, the Hindu community observed Mahalaya to herald the arrival of Goddess Durga.
According to Hindu belief and almanacs, Goddess Durga arrives on Earth on horseback this year to seek the welfare of the world, and will return to her heavenly abode by boat.
The festival holds profound religious and cultural significance, commemorating Goddess Durga’s triumph over the demon king Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.
As Mahishasura possessed a divine boon rendering him invincible to any man, the gods combined their divine energies to create Goddess Durga, who eventually defeated and slayed the demon king.
Beyond its religious dimensions, Durga Puja represents an essential element of Bangladesh’s cultural heritage, highlighting communal harmony and peaceful coexistence among communities.
Leading up to the festival, frantic preparations were underway at local temples. Idol artisans put their final brushstrokes on the sculptures of Goddess Durga alongside Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, and Ganesha.
Elaborate pandals, decorative archways (torans), and vibrant illuminations have been installed in and around the temple grounds to welcome visitors.
Out of the total 464 mandaps in the district, 119 are located in Rajbari Sadar Upazila, 26 in Goalanda Upazila, 160 in Baliakandi Upazila, 104 in Pangsha Upazila, and 55 in Kalukhali Upazila.
In response to long-standing demands from the Hindu community, the government has extended the Durga Puja holiday to three days by executive order.
Coupled with the weekly Friday and Saturday holidays, public and private sector employees will enjoy a five-day continuous break from 20 to 24 October.
To ensure a peaceful, orderly, and festive atmosphere, strict security measures have been deployed by the district and police administrations.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Mir Monir Hossain said personnel from the Police, Magistrates, BGB, Ansar, SRB, striking forces, and temple committee volunteers have been posted on security duty.
Motorcycle patrols, intelligence officers, and plainclothes police are monitoring the venues.
Noting that traffic management remains a major challenge, SP Hossain added that local volunteers and puja committee members are coordinating with law enforcement to manage vehicle movement and crowd flow, allowing devotees to celebrate safely and without hindrance.
