Hindus across Bangladesh are celebrating Maha Ashtami, one of the most significant days of Sharadiya Durga Puja, with religious fervour and festivity. Kumari Puja, a traditional ritual in which a young girl is worshipped as an embodiment of Goddess Durga, is also being held at selected temples, as devotees gather to offer prayers and take part in religious ceremonies.
Sandhi Puja takes place at the transitional moment between Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami. According to Hindu mythology, the ritual commemorates the moment Goddess Durga assumed the form of Chamunda to slay the demon brothers Chanda and Munda.
Kumari Puja was held at Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission Dhaka in the capital around 9:30am.
During the ritual, an unmarried, pre-pubescent girl, generally aged between one and 16, is worshipped as the living embodiment of the divine feminine and Goddess Durga. Known as the Kumari, the girl represents the deity in her virgin form.
Devotees offer water, clothes, flowers, and gold and silver ornaments at her feet as part of the worship.
Meanwhile, Maha Saptami Puja was held at temples across the country on Sunday with due religious fervour. Maha Prasad was distributed among devotees following the rituals.
Durga Puja celebrations began last Friday, bringing temples and puja mandaps to life with colourful decorations, traditional dhak beats, the ringing of kashor and ghonta, conch-shell blasts and ululation. Devotees have been visiting puja mandaps to take part in the festivities.
According to the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, a total of 33,851 puja mandaps have been set up across the country this year, including 258 in the capital. The number has increased by nearly 1,500 compared with last year.
In Dhaka, the Gulshan-Banani Puja Foundation is hosting one of the most elaborate celebrations at Kamal Ataturk Park in Banani. Temporary puja mandaps at Kalabagan Ground and Khamarbari have also emerged as major attractions, drawing visitors with their elaborate structures and eye-catching lighting displays.
Maha Navami will be observed on Tuesday, with devotees gathering at temples and mandaps to offer anjali and participate in the worship rituals.
The festival will conclude on Wednesday with Maha Dashami, when devotees will bid farewell to Goddess Durga. The idols will be taken in processions to designated rivers, ponds and other water bodies for immersion, a ritual known as Bisarjan.
