Hindu devotees seek blessings of Goddess Durga on Saptami

Devotees have gathered for the Saptami rituals during Durga Puja, the biggest annual festival for Bengali Hindus, seeking redemption from sins.

The rituals started at 7:53am on Thursday at the Dhakeshwari National Temple in the capital and wrapped up by 10am, reports bdnews24.com. 

During the ceremony, devotees offered their prayers before the idol of the Goddess Durga, and some ended their fasts by using the water near her feet for prayers.

Performing the Saptami Puja helps cleanse sins from seven past lifetimes, said Dharmadash Chattopadhyay, a priest at the temple.

Advisor Priest Pranab Chakraborty noted that due to the lunar calendar, the rituals began a day early with the awakening and invitation to the goddess on Tuesday, leading into the main events from Saptami.

According to Hindu tradition, Goddess Durga manifests in the mortal realm in her 10-armed form on Mahalaya in a bid to eliminate evil. The festival lasts for five days, culminating in the Dashami rituals with the immersion of the goddess’s idol.

"Though our celebrations start from Shashthi, the full festivities commence from Saptami, when we welcome the goddess and pray for global peace," said Kajol Debnath, advisor to the Bangladesh Puja Updjapan Parishad.

Although communal tensions have simmered in parts of the country in recent weeks, Debnath highlighted the steps taken by the military to ensure security surrounding the festival.

"We are one family in this nation. I hope everyone can safely practice their faith, and all political entities and citizens should strive for unity. Living as one family eliminates feelings of insecurity, fostering brotherhood and goodwill among us all."

Due to the lunar schedule, the Ashtami Puja is set for an early finish before 6am on Friday, followed by the Sandhi Puja by 8am.

This year, 31,461 temples and pavilions are hosting the festivities, including 252 venues in Dhaka city, according to the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad.