The Hindu community in Bangladesh is celebrating Maha Saptami on Saturday, the second day of the six-day Sharodiyo Durga Puja, as the lunar day (tithi) of Maha Saptami falls across two days this year.
The extended observance of Maha Saptami will continue Sunday.
Maha Shashthi, the first day of Durga Puja, was observed on Friday with Bodhan, the ceremonial awakening and invocation of Goddess Durga, marking the formal beginning of the festivities.
Maha Saptami began with the Nabapatrika ritual, during which nine plants representing different forms of Goddess Durga are ceremonially bathed and worshipped. Devotees are also offering anjali, or floral prayers, following Saptami puja at the temples.
Since morning, devotees have been visiting temples and temporary puja mandaps. In the capital, Dhakeshwari National Temple has emerged as a major centre of the celebrations.
Various religious rituals, including Kalparambha and Bihit Puja, were held at the temple in the morning. The six-day festival will continue until 21 October.
Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee General Secretary Suvasish Kumar Biswas Sadhan said the festival began with Maha Shashthi puja, followed by anjali offerings by devotees and the distribution of prasad.
Clothes were also distributed among underprivileged people on the occasion.
According to traditional beliefs, Goddess Durga arrives this year on a horse, which symbolises dry spells, heavy rainfall or an unstable period. Her departure on a boat signifies a bumper harvest and agricultural prosperity.
A total of 33,851 puja mandaps have been set up this year, including 258 in the capital, according to the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad. The number has increased by nearly 1,500 compared with last year.
The Gulshan-Banani Puja Foundation is hosting one of the most elaborate celebrations at Kemal Ataturk Park in Banani. This year’s theme, ‘Jalaja’, draws inspiration from water as a source of life, creation and divine power.
The mandap features an aquatic-inspired design incorporating traditional crafts, lighting and decorative elements to create an immersive experience for visitors. People are visiting different venues to admire religious artwork, illuminated displays and creative cultural themes.
Temporary pandals at Kalabagan ground and Khamarbari have also become major attractions in the capital, drawing crowds with their large structures and eye-catching lighting displays.
Maha Ashtami will be observed on Monday, with Kumari Puja scheduled at several mandaps. 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.
Sandhi Puja will also be held on Monday evening at the transition between Ashtami and Navami. The ritual commemorates the moment Goddess Durga assumed the form of Chamunda to slay the demon brothers Chanda and Munda, according to Hindu mythology.
Devotees will observe Maha Navami on Tuesday (20 October) with religious fervour and enthusiasm. They will gather at puja mandaps and pandals to offer flowers, water, clothes and ornaments to the deity. The day will feature major concluding worship rituals and the offering of bhog.
Maha Dashami will be observed on Wednesday, marking the farewell to Goddess Durga. Devotees will take the idols in processions to designated rivers, ponds and other water bodies for immersion, known as Bisarjan.
This year, the government extended the Durga Puja holiday to three days through an executive order in response to longstanding demands from the Hindu community.
Combined with the regular Friday and Saturday weekend holidays, the extended holiday will provide a five-day break from 20-24 October.
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad President Basudeb Dhar thanked Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for extending the holiday.
Durga Puja holds deep religious and cultural significance for Bangladesh’s Hindu community. The festival commemorates Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon king Mahishasura and symbolises the triumph of good over evil.
According to Hindu mythology, the deities combined their divine powers to create Goddess Durga, who fought and ultimately defeated Mahishasura.
Beyond its religious significance, Durga Puja is an important part of Bangladesh’s cultural heritage. The festival brings together members of the Hindu community and people of other faiths, reflecting the country’s tradition of communal harmony and peaceful coexistence.
The government has increased the financial allocation for Durga Puja mandaps to Tk5 crore from Tk4 crore. The rice allocation has also been raised to 600 kilograms per mandap, up from 500 kilograms in previous years.
Necessary security measures have been taken nationwide to ensure peaceful and smooth celebrations.
Authorities will use a mobile application previously deployed by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) to strengthen monitoring during the festival. The application will help disseminate information quickly about any untoward incident, enabling authorities to respond promptly and maintain a peaceful environment.
The Home Ministry has also instructed the relevant authorities to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply to puja venues. Mandap organisers have been asked to keep generators on standby round the clock and maintain rechargeable lights as backup in case of power outages or generator failures.
