Hindus across Bangladesh are celebrating Mahalaya, the auspicious occasion that heralds the advent of Goddess Durga, on Saturday (October 14). 

Mahalaya serves as a ceremonial invocation of the revered Goddess and sets the stage for Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, which is just a week away.

According to Hindus, Mahalaya is a time when the Earth herself readies to welcome the arrival of Goddess Durga and her divine progeny, a momentous occasion celebrated with great fervor and devotion.

Durga Puja, the main festival, will officially commence on October 20, starting on the auspicious day of Maha Shashthi.

At the break of dawn on Mahalaya, the Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee orchestrates special ceremonies at the illustrious Dhakeshwari Temple, commencing at 6 am. The temple comes alive with offerings and rituals, embodying the spiritual essence of the occasion.

On this significant day, Hindus take time to remember and pay tribute to their departed ancestors by conducting pujas, and offering clothing, food, and sweets to Brahmins in their honor.

This year there will be 32,407, Puja mandaps across the country, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Thursday requesting the country’s Hindu community to keep the number of Puja Mandops limited considering security issues.

Asaduzzaman said two lakh Ansar members will remain deployed at the Mandops and directives have been given to take special care instantly once calls from national emergency hotline services 999 would come.

Furthermore, stringent measures are being taken to enhance security, including the installation of IP cameras and CCTV cameras at the Mandops, along with stringent monitoring to prevent the spread of false information on social media platforms like Facebook and Youtube during the festivities.

To manage unexpected incidents, control rooms are being set up at police headquarters and in every district, ensuring a peaceful and secure celebration for all.

BDST: 1351 HRS, OCT 14, 2023
SMS