ZCZC
BSS-01
PUJA-BEGINS-GAIBANDHA
Durga Puja begins in Gaibandha
GAIBANDHA, Oct 04, 2019 (BSS) – Celebration of 5-day long Durga Puja, the
biggest religious festival of the Hindu Community, has begun today here with
the ‘Abahan’ and ‘Bodhon’ (incarnation) of the Goddess of strength, courage,
peace and enlightenment.
According to mythology, on Maha Shashti day, the first day of the 5-day
festival, the Goddess Durga descends on the mortal earth from her heavenly
adobe with her four children including Ganesha, Kartikeya, Lakshami and
Saraswati and the beautiful protima of Maa Dura are opened for people to look
through.
Her arrival on earth is welcomed by the devotees with much fanfare, amidst
the beats of dhak (Drum) and the main ritual carried on this day is the
unveiling of the face of the idol of Goddess Durga.
The rituals of Bodhon, Amontron and Adibas are performed before the
commencement of the Puja, the mythology also said.
This time, the goddess Durga would appear on the earth by rising horse and
make her return journey in same way, said Soilen Chakrabartee, a priest of
Shitrarm Shib Temple of the district town.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad, district unit, Dipak
Kumar Pal said the devotees installed colorful images of the goddess Durga in
a total of 609 Puja mandaps in the district with attractive decorations.
Of the total, some 103 mandaps have been erected in Sadar upazila, 131 in
Sundarganj upazila, 126 in Gobindaganj upazila, 108 in Sadullapur upazila, 61
in Palashbari upazila, 66 in Shaghata upazila and 14 in Fulchhari upazila of
the district, he also said.
The whole district has taken a festive look as the Hindu devotees including
men, women, boys, girls, youths and adolescents attired in fine dresses are
thronging different Puja mandaps to have a look at goddess Durga and seeking
the blessing from Mother Durga.
Besides, hundreds of Muslims and people of other religious faiths are also
visiting the mandaps decorated colorfully and exchanging greetings with their
Hindu friends and neighbors on Durga Puja.
The greatest festival will end on October 08 through the immersion of idols
of Mother Durga in different water bodies like pond, canal and rivers after
celebrating the Bijoya Dashami by the Hindu community.
Initiative has been taken to provide uninterrupted power supply to the Puja
mandaps at nights to enable the Hindu devotees in offering their prayers,
puja, archana, kirtons, arati and other religious rituals, said the officials
of NESCO and Palli Bidyut Samity here.
Superintendent of police (SP) Muhammad Towhidul Islam said full-proof
security measures have been taken in and around of all the Puja mandaps of
the district by the law enforcing agencies to ensure a peaceful atmosphere
for holding the Puja festival smoothly.
Police, ansar and VDP members including gram police would be deployed at
the Puja mandaps each and the elite forces RAB are also patrolling on the
road to hold the Puja here smoothly, the SP also said.
Talking to the BSS acting deputy commissioner (DC) Rokhsana Begum said
several vigilance teams headed by additional deputy commissioners and UNOs
had also been formed to help the community celebrate the festival in a
befitting manner.
The government distributed 304.50 tonnes of rice for the Puja mandaps
through district and upazila administration to assist the Hindu community to
celebrate the festival peacefully, the acting DC concluded.
BSS/CORR/MR/ 1109 hrs