DHAKA: The celebration of Durga Puja, largest religious festival of the Hindu Community, will begin across the country from Monday (October 15) amid tight security.
The celebration begins with Shashthi Puja marking the beginning of the five-day festival. Mahasaptami will be celebrated Tuesday followed by Mahashtami on Wednesday. Mohanabami and Bijoya Dashami will be observed on Thursday and Friday (Oct 19).
As many as 31,272 mandaps (makeshift temples) including 234 in Dhaka city are set to celebrate the festival, said Nirmal Kumar Chattarjee, general secretary of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad.
The mandaps have been decorated with colourful lights, artificial flowers, festoons, banners and paintings, with colourful arches at the entrance of a number of them welcoming devotees and guests.
Meanwhile, strict security measures have been taken across the country including the capital where Police, Ansar, BGB, RAB among others law enforcing agencies will carry out their duties to ensure safety during Puja celebration. Apart from Police and RAB, volunteers will be present in almost all mandaps. A central control room was opened by Puja committee in Dhaka’s Dhakeshwari temple.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said there is no possible threat centering Durga Puja celebration this year. However, a coordinated and strong security measures were taken considering the overall situation.
Of the 234 mandaps in Dhaka, nine are the largest. They are- Dakeshwari Temple, Ramkrishna Math, Kalabagan Pujamandap, Banani Mandap, Siddheswari Kali Temple, Ramna Kali Temple, Uttara Sarvajanin Pujamandap, Krishibid Institute Social Welfare Association and Bashundhara Sarvajanin Puja mandaps. There will be several layers of security in these mandaps, he said.
Moreover, every mandaps will be under CCTV surveillance and visitors will have to cross archways for entrance. Apart from police personnel, a significant number of white clothed policemen will also be present there. A makeshift police control room was also set up in Dakeshwari Temple to maintain contact with Puja committee leaders all time, the commissioner added.
BDST: 2130 HRS, OCT 14, 2018
AP
