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People from the Hindu community in Bangladesh have started celebrating Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival for the religion’s devotees, with the ritual inviting the goddess Durga to descend to Earth.
Devotees heralded the goddess’s arrival through rituals at temples across the country, including the Dhakeshwari National Temple in the capital, with drums and the sounding of conches.
Mahalaya, Bodhon and Shandhi Puja are the three main components of the Durga Puja, according to the Hindu tradition.
Durga Puja is celebrated in the Bengali month of Ashwin and the specific fortnight is called Debi Paksha, reports bdnews24.com.
According to Hindu beliefs, the goddess Durga arrives on Earth in the beginning of Debi Paksha to annihilate demon Mahishasur.
The Mahalaya ritual began at the Dhakeshwari National Temple with the sounding of drums and recitation of scripture at 6am on Wednesday.
A cultural programme opened with songs of welcome. A play titled 'Debi Durgar Mahishasur Bodh' was staged. Then sacred food was distributed among the devotees.
"The Chandipath and cultural programme are already over. Now there'll be special prayer session. Besides, other rituals including the remembrance of ancestors will be held," said Tapas Chandra Pal, general secretary of Mohanagar Puja Udjapan Parishad.
The second phase of the Mahalaya ritual at Dhakeshwari began at 10am, where the ritual for the ancestors was performed.
"It was a different feeling for me in this year's Mahalaya. This is the first time I participated in the Mahalaya programme in Dhakeshwari. First there was Chandipath and then the cultural programme was gorgeous. The 'Mahishasurmardini' exhibition dazzled my eyes. Altogether, I had a great morning,"
A significant number of law enforcers were present at the temple premises. Besides police, army personnel were present to prevent any untoward incident and maintain discipline.
Besides Dhakeshwari, Puja Mandaps or venues in Shamibagh, Banani and other parts of the city began the Mahalaya ritual.
Government data showed that Durga Puja will be celebrated in 32,666 venues across the country.
The main Puja rituals will kick off on Oct 9 with Bodhon and end on Oct 13 with immersion of the goddess's idol. That day is called Bijoya Dashami, the last day of the festival.