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A weeklong Shiv Chaturdashi puja and fair has begun at Adinath Temple in Maheshkhali in the district.
Hundreds of shops have set up stalls around the temple to sell various products during the traditional fair.
Organisers said the fair was inaugurated in presence of a large number of pilgrims on Wednesday and would end on March 04.
Meanwhile, pilgrims have started to flock to Adinath Temple from different parts of the country on the occasion of Shiv Chaturdashi Tithi. Every year, on the Chaturdashi Tithi of the Krishna Paksha of the month of Falgun, followers of traditional religion gather at this temple in the hope of receiving the blessings of Lord Mahadev.
According to Rahul Chakraborty, the head priest of the temple, this year the main puja has been scheduled for February 26 and 27.
However, even though the main phase of worship is over, there are special darshan and worship arrangements for the devotees for another three days. Since last Tuesday, devotees from different parts of the country started coming to the foothills of Mainak Mountain in Maheshkhali.
Like every year, a large number of devotees and tourists from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Malaysia have come to participate in the fair this year. This fair, which has been going on for almost two centuries, has become a unique meeting place of folk culture and religious traditions.
Maheshkhali Island is located 12 kilometres away from Cox's Bazar. Adinath Temple is located on the top of a high hill next to the sea in Thakurtala village of Gorakhata union on the island.