Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community, begins today with Maha Sashthi puja at temples across the country amid festivity and religious fervor following the prescribed health guidelines in face of the global pandemic coronavirus.
The five-day long Durga Puja celebration will begin with the unveiling of the face of the deity and Kalparambho on the day of Maha Sashthi on October 22 and conclude on October 26 with the immersion of the idols.
The incarnation (Bodhon) of the Goddess Durga was held yesterday at temples ahead of the puja on Maha Panchami.
Maha Saptami puja will be performed on Friday, Maha Ashtami, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja on Saturday and Maha Nabami Puja on Sunday.
The Mahalaya, the auspicious occasion heralding the advent of goddess Durga, was celebrated on September 17 last.
In Dhaka city, the main puja mandaps have been set up at Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramkrishna Mission and Math, Kalabagan, Banani, Shakhari Bazar, and Ramna Kali Mandir.
Recently Health Services Division issued some directives for maintaining health guidelines during the Durga Puja in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
According to the instructions, while entering the puja mandap, one has to maintain health guidelines, including social distancing, using hand sanitizer, and wearing masks.
Handwashing facilities, sanitizers, and thermal scanner should be ensured at the entry points of puja mandaps.
This year no procession will be allowed to be brought out across the country ahead of the immersion of idols during Durga Puja this time due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The decision was taken at a meeting on law and order during Durga Puja at the Home Ministry held virtually with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan in the chair on Sunday.
Earlier on October 4, the Home Ministry gave some instructions to ensure the security of the puja mandaps and maintain law and order.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages greeting the members of the country’s Hindu community on this occasion.BSS
