Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Durga Puja, the biggest annual festival for Bengali Hindus, has started across the country with the Kalparambha rituals.
The rituals began at 8:30 am on Friday, with the sounds of drums and conch shells echoing in temples and pavilions nationwide, reports bdnews24.com.
During the ritual, devotees prayed for good to triumph over evil at home and abroad.
In the capital city, the Dhakeshwari National Temple was bustling from early morning.
"We have to make arrangements for the start of the Kalparambha. It's a very busy time as we only have a short window to complete the ritual," said Barun Chakraborty, a priest at the temple.
Police, RAB, and intelligence agencies have been actively ensuring security around the temple. In the morning, RAB and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's K-9 unit searched the area.
This year, Durga Puja is being celebrated in 32,407 temples and pavilions across the country. In Dhaka, the main venues include the Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Kalabagan, Banani, Ramna Kali Mandir, Shakhari Bazar, and Tantibazar.
According to the belief, the 10-armed goddess Durga arrives as a 'maiden' on Mahalaya, and devotees bid her farewell for the year, hoping for her swift return. The festival lasts for five days, including her arrival and departure.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conveyed their greetings to the Hindu community on the occasion of Durga Puja through separate messages.
In a message, the president remarked that Durga Puja combines the traditions and culture of Bengal, and the Hindu community in the country has been enthusiastically celebrating this festival with various programs for a long time.
"Preserving communal harmony is an enduring Bengali tradition. We should uphold this tradition as we strive for our overall progress. I am confident that the inclusive spirit and unity within Bengali culture will play a significant role in achieving the vision of 'Sonar Bangla' envisioned by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 'Smart Bangladesh' concept presented by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. My hope is for peace and humanity to prevail worldwide."
In her message, Hasina said that Durga Puja is not confined to the Hindu community but has evolved into a celebration for everyone.
It centres around the triumph over evil forces and the veneration of truth and beauty, she said.
"Let's unite, inspired by the spirit of the great Liberation War, to build a prosperous and knowledge-based Bangladesh that fulfills the dream of our father of the nation, ensuring a life free from hunger and poverty, all while preserving communal harmony."