The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondents, Barisal

Two days long Ras Ustav and Mela, began on Sunday amidst tight security at Kuakata Coast at the time of rising of full moon. The festival, a tradition of more than two hundred years in the area, also signals the opening of the fishing season there. Thousands of people had already gathered at the Kuakata coast to join festival. Some of the devotees will take sea bath, believing that it will wipe out their sins.

Since 1927 a festival also being celebrated by the members of the Hindu community amid great enthusiasm and religious flavour at the Khepupara Sree Sree Madan Mohan Sebasram in the municipal town under Kalapara upazila.

Liakat Ali, Kalapara UNO said that they had taken a Foolproof security for the devotees and the visitors. Members of the Navy, the Coast guard, the Rapid Action Battalion, the Police, the Bangladesh Rifles and the Forest Division have been deployed with the volunteers of the Festival Committee to ensure security to the devotees and the visitors. Besides they arranged health and sanitation facilities including setting up of medical camps and teams.