S.M. Sahidul Islam, Satkhira
Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Bengali Hindu community, is going to begin on October 4 and will end on October 8 with the immersion of idols in the rivers or in ponds.
Artisans of the district have already finished to shape the structures of idol Durga and other deities with clay and stray and now they are busy to give a final touch of fabricating, painting and beautifying of those.
Idol artist Shasthi Charan Paul of Murarikati village in Kolaroa upazila of Satkhira said, this year ‘Mother Durga' will arrive by riding on the horse back.
He informed, he along with five of his assistants have so far made 15 idols of Durga in various places of the district and they were charging Tk.20,000 to 35,000 to make each idol. It takes about three weeks to make one idol but it would take more time if the weather was not favorable.
Among the artisan engaged in idol-making are: Dilip Gain of Kadakati village of Ashashuni, Subol Paul of Ticket village of Debhata, Haridas Ray of Bishnupur of Kaliganj Upazila. They informed, in addition to clay and sandy soil, bamboo, straw, rope, iron, rice-paint, jute, wood and bright coloured, decorated cloths and dresses as well as sarees needed.
Raghujit Kumar Guha, General Secretary of District Temple Association informed, a total of 578 puja mandaps have been set up in seven upazilas of Satkhira district.
Upazila wise break up of puja mandaps in the district is- 106 mandaps in Sadar upazila, 186 in Tala upazila, 43 in Kolaroa upazila, 105 in Ashashuni upazila, 21 in Debhata upazila, 51 in Kaliganj upazila and 66 mandaps in Shyamnagar upazila.
While visiting the largest Maiyer Bari Puja mandap at Old Satkhira area of the district, this correspondent found the artisans were spending busy time painting the image of deities to make the idols look more attractive to the devotees and the visitors.
Bishwa Nath Ghose, General Secretary of Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parisad, Satkhira unit said, Satkhira district Police authorities have already taken adequate security measures for smooth celebration of Durga Puja.
Mostafijur Rahman, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Satkhira said, a foolproof security measures from the police administration with assistance from local volunteers will be ensured in all puja mandaps of the district
A team of police along with Aansar members will be deployed to all the Puja mandaps during the festival.
S. M. Mostafa Kamal, Deputy Commissioner of Satkhira informed measures have been taken to ensure peaceful environment of the Puja mandap area. At the same time, measures have been taken to uninterrupted supply of electricity to all puja mandaps and smooth traffic management for peaceful celebration of Durga Puja.
