Sunday, 22 December, 2024
Durga Puja, the largest religious festival for the Bangalee Hindu community, will commence on Wednesday with the invocation of Goddess Durga on Maha Shasthi at temples and makeshift mandaps nationwide, infused with fervent religious devotion and celebration.
The five-day Sharadiyo Durgotsab will kick off with Kalparambho in the morning, followed by various rituals, including Adhibash and Amantran (invitation) later in the afternoon.
On October 10, the second day of the festivities, Maha Saptami puja will be conducted in the morning. This includes placing the nabapatrika—a ceremonial bundle of nine plants, including a banana tree, tied together and wrapped in a white saree with red borders—next to the idol of Ganesha, having been bathed in the holy waters of the Ganges.
The third day, Maha Ashtami, on October 11, will see various rituals such as Ashtami puja, offering Anjali, Kumari Puja, and Sandhi Puja performed in the morning.
This year, the Maha Nabami tithi will also begin on October 11, lasting until 6:12 AM on October 12, allowing rituals for Maha Nabami to take place on both days.
Rituals for Dashami Puja will be conducted on October 12, with the festival culminating on October 13 with the immersion of idols in nearby rivers or ponds.
Hindus believe that during this time, Goddess Durga descends from heaven to earth, arriving on a palanquin this year.
As the festival approaches, a festive spirit fills the air across the country, with just two days left until Durga Puja. Communities are eagerly anticipating the mandaps, which will resonate with devotional chants, the fragrant smoke of incense (dhup), the rhythmic beating of drums (dhak-dhol), and joyous ululations (uludhoni).
According to government data, Durga Puja will be celebrated at 32,666 mandaps nationwide, including 257 in the capital. Key puja mandaps in Dhaka include the Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramkrishna Math and Mission, Banani, Kalabagan, Shakhari Bazar, Shiddeshwari Kali Mandir, Ramna Kali Mandir, Jagannath Hall at the Dhaka University campus, Khamar Bari at Farmgate, Lalbagh Rishipara, Rajarbagh Kalimandir, and the old parts of Dhaka, including Tanti Bazar.
In addition to religious rituals, Dhakeshwari National Temple will host various activities, including performances of devotional songs, clothes distribution, an Aroti competition, and voluntary blood donation drives.
Durga Puja will also be celebrated extensively in major divisional cities, such as the port city of Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Sylhet, as well as in district towns including Faridpur, Dinajpur, Jashore, Kushtia, and Satkhira.
According to Hindu texts, during Treta Yuga, Lord Rama Chandra fought against Dashanan Ravana, worshipping Goddess Adyashakti Mahamaya (Debi Durga) in the autumn to gain strength for overcoming sin and ultimately rescuing Goddess Sita. This victory marked the beginning of the autumn celebrations of Durgotsab.
To ensure a safe and secure environment during the Durga Puja celebrations, comprehensive security measures will be implemented across the country. A central police control room will be established at the Dhakeswari National Temple premises, as is customary each year, to monitor the security at puja mandaps throughout the capital.
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Durga Puja, the largest religious festival for the Bangalee Hindu community, will commence on Wednesday with the invocation of Goddess Durga on Maha Shasthi at temples and makeshift mandaps nationwide, infused with fervent religious devotion and celebration.
The five-day Sharadiyo Durgotsab will kick off with Kalparambho in the morning, followed by various rituals, including Adhibash and Amantran (invitation) later in the afternoon.
On October 10, the second day of the festivities, Maha Saptami puja will be conducted in the morning. This includes placing the nabapatrika—a ceremonial bundle of nine plants, including a banana tree, tied together and wrapped in a white saree with red borders—next to the idol of Ganesha, having been bathed in the holy waters of the Ganges.
The third day, Maha Ashtami, on October 11, will see various rituals such as Ashtami puja, offering Anjali, Kumari Puja, and Sandhi Puja performed in the morning.
This year, the Maha Nabami tithi will also begin on October 11, lasting until 6:12 AM on October 12, allowing rituals for Maha Nabami to take place on both days.
Rituals for Dashami Puja will be conducted on October 12, with the festival culminating on October 13 with the immersion of idols in nearby rivers or ponds.
Hindus believe that during this time, Goddess Durga descends from heaven to earth, arriving on a palanquin this year.
As the festival approaches, a festive spirit fills the air across the country, with just two days left until Durga Puja. Communities are eagerly anticipating the mandaps, which will resonate with devotional chants, the fragrant smoke of incense (dhup), the rhythmic beating of drums (dhak-dhol), and joyous ululations (uludhoni).
According to government data, Durga Puja will be celebrated at 32,666 mandaps nationwide, including 257 in the capital. Key puja mandaps in Dhaka include the Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramkrishna Math and Mission, Banani, Kalabagan, Shakhari Bazar, Shiddeshwari Kali Mandir, Ramna Kali Mandir, Jagannath Hall at the Dhaka University campus, Khamar Bari at Farmgate, Lalbagh Rishipara, Rajarbagh Kalimandir, and the old parts of Dhaka, including Tanti Bazar.
In addition to religious rituals, Dhakeshwari National Temple will host various activities, including performances of devotional songs, clothes distribution, an Aroti competition, and voluntary blood donation drives.
Durga Puja will also be celebrated extensively in major divisional cities, such as the port city of Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Sylhet, as well as in district towns including Faridpur, Dinajpur, Jashore, Kushtia, and Satkhira.
According to Hindu texts, during Treta Yuga, Lord Rama Chandra fought against Dashanan Ravana, worshipping Goddess Adyashakti Mahamaya (Debi Durga) in the autumn to gain strength for overcoming sin and ultimately rescuing Goddess Sita. This victory marked the beginning of the autumn celebrations of Durgotsab.
To ensure a safe and secure environment during the Durga Puja celebrations, comprehensive security measures will be implemented across the country. A central police control room will be established at the Dhakeswari National Temple premises, as is customary each year, to monitor the security at puja mandaps throughout the capital.
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