Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community, will begin on Saturday with Maha Shasthi puja at temples across the country amid festivity and religious fervour.
The five-day annual celebration will begin with unveiling of the face of the deity and Kalparambho on Maha Shasthi and it will end on October 5 with the immersion of the idols on the day of Bijaya Dashami, reports BSS.
The incarnation (Bodhon) of the Goddess Durga happened this evening ahead of the puja on the day of Maha Panchami.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today gave separate messages on the occasion of the Durga Puja extending greetings to Hindu community members.
Swami Premananda Maharaj of Ramkrishna Mission and Ramkrishna Math, Dhaka told BSS that Goddess Durga will come to earth (martyalok) from heaven (Kailash) riding on elephant which signifies, as per mythology, that the earth will witness natural disasters like storms but production of grains and crops will increase.
Goddess Durga will return to heaven (Kailash) riding on boat which signifies the world will get blessings.
According to the schedule of Durga Puja of Ramkrishna Mission, Maha Shasthi puja will be held at 7.30am with holding of different rituals including Kalparambho and Bodhon, Amantron (invitation) and Adhibas.
Recitation of verses from the Holy Sri Sri Chandi, blowing of conch shells and beating of traditional dhak-dhols (traditional drums), kashor at temples and pandals will begin on Saturday morning and it will continue for next five days until immersion of idols.
On the second day on October 2, Maha Saptami puja will be performed at 6.30am while Maha Ashtami puja will be held on the third day on October 3 at 9.30am and Kumari Puja at 11am, Sandhi Puja at 4.44pm and it will be done before 5.32 pm.
Maha Nabami Puja will be held on the fourth day on October 4 at 6.30am and offering of pushpanjali or anjali at 10.30am.
On the final day of Bijaya Dashami, puja will begin at 6.30am, pushpanjali at 8am and puja completion and Darpan Bisharjan will be held by 8.50am.
The five-day festival will end with immersion of idols of goddess Durga and her offspring - Ganesha, Karitik, Laxmi and Saraswati - and devotees will receive Shantijol (sacred water from where deities are immersed).
The Mahalaya, the auspicious occasion heralding the advent of goddess Durga, was celebrated on September 25.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
