The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

A five-day celebration of Sharodiya Durga Utsob, the main religious festival of the Bengali Hindu Community, has been started in festive mood from Wednesday in 401 Puja Mandops of the district.

It would be ended on Sunday night by immersion of the idols and images of the deities with solemnities and religious rituals.

Rakhal Chandra Dey and Manik Mukharjee Kudu, president and secretary of Barisal District Puja Udajapon Porishad, said these numbers included 19 mass (Sarbojonin) and 6 personal (Bektigato) Mandops of Barisal city, 10 mass and 2 personal Mandops of Sadar, 120 Mandops of Agoiljhara, 60 Mandops of Gournadi, 62 Mandops of Uzirpur, 44 Mandops of Bakerganj, 36 Mandops of Banaripara, 14 Mandops of Mehendiganj, 13 Mandops of Bauganj,07 Mandops of Muladi and 08 Mandops of Hizla upazilas of the district.

District administration allotted special financial grants and assured special security, undisrupted electricity and water supply, traffic control arrangements for the worshipers and visitors of the each Puja Mandop.

Mandops were colorfully and beautifully decorated with gates, electric lights and cultural functions, Aroti competitions, arranged in almost every Puja Mandop and religious discussions and other programs also arranged at Dharma Rakkkhini and Ramakrishna Mission Math Mandops of the city.

Leaders of the different community called to maintain peaceful coexistences, religious and communal harmony during the Sharodiya Durga Puja Utsob.

BSS, Comilla adds: The holy Durga Puja, the greatest religious festival of the Hindu community, is being celebrated in the district as elsewhere across the country amid fanfare and religious fervour.

With performing of Bodhon ritual and Shakti puja, the five- day festival has began on Wednesday at every mandap.

The district administration sources said a total of 523 puja mandaps have been erected at 16 upazilas of the district and necessary steps have been taken to ensure smooth and peaceful holding of the festival.

Members of the law enforcing agencies as well as the volunteers of the puja committees are vigilant to avoid any untoward incident.

Devotees have been joining in the rituals of the puja in large numbers. Prasads are being distributed among the visitors.