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Durga Puja begins today
Home City
12:00 AM, October 15, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 01:00 AM, October 15, 2018
With the main festival of Durga Puja beginning today (Shasthi), all preparations are nearly complete at different places across Dhaka city. The premises of Krishibid Institution Bangladesh hosts an elaborately decorated mandap. Photo: Prabir Das
With the main festival of Durga Puja beginning today (Shasthi), all preparations are nearly complete at different places across Dhaka city. The premises of Krishibid Institution Bangladesh hosts an elaborately decorated mandap. Photo: Prabir Das
Bss, Dhaka
Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bengali Hindu community, begins today with Maha Sashthi, at temples across the country amid festive fervour and stringent security.
Preparations at all Puja mandaps have nearly been completed, as devotees and artisans were busy giving final touches on idols and mandaps yesterday.
In separate messages, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conveyed greetings to the members of the country's Hindu community, marking the festival.
The five-day festival starts with 'Bodhon' of the Goddess Durga today, and will come to an end with the immersion of idols of Durga in rivers and water bodies across the country on October 19, marking 'Dashami'.
To mark 'Shashthi' today, recitation of verses from the Holy Chandi blowing of shankha (conch shells) and beating of dhak-dhol (drums) will be heard in temples and mandaps throughout the day. The Shashthi puja will begin through Kalparombha at 6:30am.
Maha Saptami puja will be held tomorrow; Maha Ashtami, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja on Wednesday; Maha Nabami Puja on Thursday and Bijoya Dashami on Friday.
At Kalabagan playground. Photo: Prabir Das
At Kalabagan playground. Photo: Prabir Das
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad General Secretary Nirmal Kumar Chattarjee said as many as 31,272 permanent and temporary mandaps have been set up in the country, including 234 in the capital this year.
In Dhaka city, the largest number of devotees will be seen at the Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramkrishna Mission and Math, Kalabagan, Banani, Shakhari Bazar and Dhaka University Jagannath Hall puja mandaps.
Security has been beefed up at all Puja mandaps throughout the country, including the capital, with deployment of additional squads of Ansars, police, Rab and other law enforcers to ensure peaceful celebrations throughout the festival. Besides, voluntary groups will also perform duties at the puja mandaps.
Artisans giving finishing touches to the mandap. The festival will end on October 19 (Bijaya Dashami) through the immersion of idols. The photos were taken yesterday. Photo: Star
Artisans giving finishing touches to the mandap. The festival will end on October 19 (Bijaya Dashami) through the immersion of idols. The photos were taken yesterday. Photo: Star
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal had earlier said law enforcers will be deployed across the country for the five days of the Durga Puja, adding that the government has banned the use of crackers and all sorts of drugs during the Puja.
Social networking sites would also be put under surveillance so that no group could spread rumour to disrupt communal harmony ahead of Durga Puja, the minister added.
All puja committees have installed CCTV cameras and metal detectors at their mandaps.
On the eve of the festival, leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Mahanagar Sarbojonin Puja Committee and Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad expressed greetings to members of all communities of the country.
The organisations also urged organisers across the country to keep processions of Bijoya Dashami suspended from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm on the day, as it coincides with Juma prayers.
https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/durga-puja-begins-today-1647106
When Dhakeshwari arrives
As you look around, you witness the merriest amalgamation of bright smiles, dazzling lights and vibrant colours. The vivacious tempo of 'dhaak' and the ambrosial fragrance of 'mondai mithai' beckon to you. Ma Durga has arrived and it's time to immerse yourselves in jubilant celebrations!
Nafisa Faruque
Occurring annually, Durga Puja has always been one of the largest and most colourful festivals in Bangladesh. It marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, after ten days and nine nights of battling him. Moreover, it transcends its religious and cultural relevance to stand tall as a resilient symbol of power for women as well.
When it comes to Durga Puja, the land of Bengal specifically bears significance as it is a part of a sacred geographical layout according to ancient Shakto/Hindu history. This divine geography extends to the bustling city of Dhaka and this is why Ma Durga is popularly known as 'Dhakeshwari' or the Goddess of Dhaka who protects this city against all harms and evils.
Durga Puja holds unique meanings in people's hearts and brings them together. “To me, it means 'family' because it is the only time of the year where I get to reunite with all my loved ones,” explained Parbon Acharjee, Management Trainee at Banglalink Digital Communications Limited.
While Monojit Saha, a student of University of Dhaka seconded that feeling, he also added that he finds it really amusing to show his non-Hindu friends around all the mandaps and highlight the puja nitty-gritties. “It gives me a real feeling of sharing the joy of Durga Puja which I couldn't really have explored otherwise,” Saha justified.
While preparing for Durga Puja, devotees dedicate their hard work, care, and love to make every aspect of the celebration breathtakingly beautiful. Even the idol for veneration can take up to a month or longer to be completed. “This is why highly adept sculptors are hired a few months beforehand from across the nation to encapsulate the divine beauty of Ma Durga with utmost perfection in her 'murti',” Saha pointed out. Furthermore, each year, Goddess Durga arrives on a different mythical transport than the previous one. This year, she is set to appear on a horse.
Dhakeshwari Temple, the national temple in Dhaka, is undoubtedly the most visited and arranges the biggest platform for veneration. Besides these, one might find several makeshift veneration spots or 'mandaps' around the city. Shankhari Bazar is one such hotspot filled with mandaps and festivities. Acharjee admitted that nowadays, it is indeed pleasantly surprising to see brand new puja mandaps popping up every year all over the capital. “It gives you a chance to explore new places and enjoy the stunning decorations and cultural programs,” he furthered.
In Dhaka, this celebration is renowned for its 'sharbojonin' aspect, which literally means an event where anyone and everyone can take part in. The ten-day long festivity truly takes off in the last six days, starting off with 'Bodhon' or the incarnation of the goddess on Shashthi, or the sixth day of puja. The final day is called 'Bijoya Dashami' and marks the end of Durga Puja. As her loyal devotees bid her farewell in the process of 'Bishorjon' (immersion), Ma Durga, victorious against malevolence, is immersed into the water, marking the end of the grand Durga Puja.
https://www.thedailystar.net/lifest...ion-when-dhakeshwari-arrives-in-dhaka-1644382
Home City
12:00 AM, October 15, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 01:00 AM, October 15, 2018
With the main festival of Durga Puja beginning today (Shasthi), all preparations are nearly complete at different places across Dhaka city. The premises of Krishibid Institution Bangladesh hosts an elaborately decorated mandap. Photo: Prabir Das
With the main festival of Durga Puja beginning today (Shasthi), all preparations are nearly complete at different places across Dhaka city. The premises of Krishibid Institution Bangladesh hosts an elaborately decorated mandap. Photo: Prabir Das
Bss, Dhaka
Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bengali Hindu community, begins today with Maha Sashthi, at temples across the country amid festive fervour and stringent security.
Preparations at all Puja mandaps have nearly been completed, as devotees and artisans were busy giving final touches on idols and mandaps yesterday.
In separate messages, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conveyed greetings to the members of the country's Hindu community, marking the festival.
The five-day festival starts with 'Bodhon' of the Goddess Durga today, and will come to an end with the immersion of idols of Durga in rivers and water bodies across the country on October 19, marking 'Dashami'.
To mark 'Shashthi' today, recitation of verses from the Holy Chandi blowing of shankha (conch shells) and beating of dhak-dhol (drums) will be heard in temples and mandaps throughout the day. The Shashthi puja will begin through Kalparombha at 6:30am.
Maha Saptami puja will be held tomorrow; Maha Ashtami, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja on Wednesday; Maha Nabami Puja on Thursday and Bijoya Dashami on Friday.
At Kalabagan playground. Photo: Prabir Das
At Kalabagan playground. Photo: Prabir Das
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad General Secretary Nirmal Kumar Chattarjee said as many as 31,272 permanent and temporary mandaps have been set up in the country, including 234 in the capital this year.
In Dhaka city, the largest number of devotees will be seen at the Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramkrishna Mission and Math, Kalabagan, Banani, Shakhari Bazar and Dhaka University Jagannath Hall puja mandaps.
Security has been beefed up at all Puja mandaps throughout the country, including the capital, with deployment of additional squads of Ansars, police, Rab and other law enforcers to ensure peaceful celebrations throughout the festival. Besides, voluntary groups will also perform duties at the puja mandaps.
Artisans giving finishing touches to the mandap. The festival will end on October 19 (Bijaya Dashami) through the immersion of idols. The photos were taken yesterday. Photo: Star
Artisans giving finishing touches to the mandap. The festival will end on October 19 (Bijaya Dashami) through the immersion of idols. The photos were taken yesterday. Photo: Star
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal had earlier said law enforcers will be deployed across the country for the five days of the Durga Puja, adding that the government has banned the use of crackers and all sorts of drugs during the Puja.
Social networking sites would also be put under surveillance so that no group could spread rumour to disrupt communal harmony ahead of Durga Puja, the minister added.
All puja committees have installed CCTV cameras and metal detectors at their mandaps.
On the eve of the festival, leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Mahanagar Sarbojonin Puja Committee and Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad expressed greetings to members of all communities of the country.
The organisations also urged organisers across the country to keep processions of Bijoya Dashami suspended from 12:00 noon to 2:00pm on the day, as it coincides with Juma prayers.
https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/durga-puja-begins-today-1647106
When Dhakeshwari arrives
As you look around, you witness the merriest amalgamation of bright smiles, dazzling lights and vibrant colours. The vivacious tempo of 'dhaak' and the ambrosial fragrance of 'mondai mithai' beckon to you. Ma Durga has arrived and it's time to immerse yourselves in jubilant celebrations!
Nafisa Faruque
Occurring annually, Durga Puja has always been one of the largest and most colourful festivals in Bangladesh. It marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, after ten days and nine nights of battling him. Moreover, it transcends its religious and cultural relevance to stand tall as a resilient symbol of power for women as well.
When it comes to Durga Puja, the land of Bengal specifically bears significance as it is a part of a sacred geographical layout according to ancient Shakto/Hindu history. This divine geography extends to the bustling city of Dhaka and this is why Ma Durga is popularly known as 'Dhakeshwari' or the Goddess of Dhaka who protects this city against all harms and evils.
Durga Puja holds unique meanings in people's hearts and brings them together. “To me, it means 'family' because it is the only time of the year where I get to reunite with all my loved ones,” explained Parbon Acharjee, Management Trainee at Banglalink Digital Communications Limited.
While Monojit Saha, a student of University of Dhaka seconded that feeling, he also added that he finds it really amusing to show his non-Hindu friends around all the mandaps and highlight the puja nitty-gritties. “It gives me a real feeling of sharing the joy of Durga Puja which I couldn't really have explored otherwise,” Saha justified.
While preparing for Durga Puja, devotees dedicate their hard work, care, and love to make every aspect of the celebration breathtakingly beautiful. Even the idol for veneration can take up to a month or longer to be completed. “This is why highly adept sculptors are hired a few months beforehand from across the nation to encapsulate the divine beauty of Ma Durga with utmost perfection in her 'murti',” Saha pointed out. Furthermore, each year, Goddess Durga arrives on a different mythical transport than the previous one. This year, she is set to appear on a horse.
Dhakeshwari Temple, the national temple in Dhaka, is undoubtedly the most visited and arranges the biggest platform for veneration. Besides these, one might find several makeshift veneration spots or 'mandaps' around the city. Shankhari Bazar is one such hotspot filled with mandaps and festivities. Acharjee admitted that nowadays, it is indeed pleasantly surprising to see brand new puja mandaps popping up every year all over the capital. “It gives you a chance to explore new places and enjoy the stunning decorations and cultural programs,” he furthered.
In Dhaka, this celebration is renowned for its 'sharbojonin' aspect, which literally means an event where anyone and everyone can take part in. The ten-day long festivity truly takes off in the last six days, starting off with 'Bodhon' or the incarnation of the goddess on Shashthi, or the sixth day of puja. The final day is called 'Bijoya Dashami' and marks the end of Durga Puja. As her loyal devotees bid her farewell in the process of 'Bishorjon' (immersion), Ma Durga, victorious against malevolence, is immersed into the water, marking the end of the grand Durga Puja.
https://www.thedailystar.net/lifest...ion-when-dhakeshwari-arrives-in-dhaka-1644382
