Bijaya Dashomi of the five-day Sarodia Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community, will be celebrated in the country today.
With solemn immersion of Goddess Durga, the puja will end today (Monday) across the country.
Durga Puja started on Thursday (October 22) through Chandipath, Bodhon and Goddess’s abode, following the health and hygiene rules.
Durga Puja was held in some 30,223 mandapas across the country this year.
This year, the goddess is said to come in the cradle, and will ride on the elephant on her way to the heaven.
Various religious ceremonies were shortened this year to avoid infection amid the coronavirus epidemic.
The Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad has termed this year’s Durgotsab only as ‘Durga Puja’ as it should be limited to Sattwik Puja by avoiding the issues related to the festival.
Earlier, several prohibitions were also issued including closing the puja mandaps after the evening arati. The distribution of prasad and the procession of Bijaya Dashomi were banned to avoid public gatherings.
Due to the corona epidemic, the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad had earlier announced the arrangements for live telecast of paying homage the goddess on television and Facebook.
Devotees were also invited to pay homage at home. Responding to that call, this time many devotees sit at home and receive puja anjali every day.
The main attraction of Maha Ashtami is ‘Kumari Puja’. Although this Kumari Puja is held every year at the Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka with the aim of awakening this realization of motherhood in all women, this time this puja was not held due to health and hygiene instructions.
Although many people go together in a truck for immersion, this time 10 people can go in a truck for idol abandonment.
Nirmal Kumar Chatterjee, general secretary of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, said, “This year, the immersion of the Goddess will be done by avoiding the procession on Bijaya Dashmi. The mandap or temple authorities concerned will take steps to conduct Bisarjan by following proper health rules.”
Today is a public holiday on the occasion of Bijaya Dashomi.
On this occasion, Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and other private TV channels and radios will broadcast special programs. Besides, national dailies will publish special articles on the occasion.
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad thanked all the political parties, the government and all concerned, including members of the law enforcement agencies, for their full cooperation in celebrating the festival in a peaceful manner.