Saradiya Durgotsab or Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of Bengali Hindus, will start from October 11 and continue for the next five days this year.
This Puja will end on October 15 with the Biswarjan (submersion) of the Durga idols on Bijaya Dashami (the last day of the Puja).
Ishwardi Upazila Puja Udjapan Parishad and the law enforcement agencies have made various preparations for the smooth and beautiful celebration of the Puja.
On the occasion of the Durga Puja in the seven unions and Ishwardi Upazila Sadar, temple decoration and other arrangements are going on in full swing. Various arrangements have been started in the houses of the followers of the Hindu religion centering the Durga Puja. Parents are hopping the local markets with their childrens to buy new clothes for the to wear during the Puja.
According to Ishwardi Upazila Puja Udjapan Parishad, the formality of the puja will start from October 11. Durga Puja will be held in 30 mandaps across Ishwardi municipal area and seven unions of the upazila this year.
Of them, 8 temples in the municipal area, 6 in Sara, 3 in Pakshi, 2 in Sahapur, 2 in Lakshmikunda, 3 in Dashuria, 5 in Muladuli and 1 temple in Salimpur Union will be celebrating the Puja in due manner. Separate committees are holding the puja in each temple.
Visiting a few Puja Mandaps in the town on Friday, it was seen that the temple were being decorated with lights and arches. Preparations are underway to build arches on the roads adjacent to the temple including Thakurbari, Karmakar Para and Darinaricha areas. Ganesh Chandra Sarkar, General Secretary of Ishwardi Upazila Puja Udjapan Parishad, said puja would be held at 30 temples in Ishwardi this year.
Several meetings have already been held with the Upazila Law and Order Committee, Police and Temple Committee to celebrate the puja in a fair, beautiful and orderly manner. Preparations for worship are going on in every temple. All preparations will be completed in two-three days.
Due to the Corona situation, everyone concerned has been instructed to observe the festival in accordance with the hygiene rules from the preparatory meeting.
Ganesh Chandra added, the biggest festival of Hindus, Durga Puja, will start from October 11 and will end on Friday, October 15 with the immersion of the idol on Bijaya Dashami.
Shri Madhav Chandra Pal, General Secretary of the Karmakarpara Matrimandir Committee of the city said, “We have started the work to celebrate the puja in the temple. Everything is going well. Hopefully the preparations will be completed in a day or two. He said there have been puja celebrations and meetings with leaders of various temple committees. I hope Durga Puja will be held in a beautiful and fair environment like every time.”
Ishwardi Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Asaduzzaman said police would be deployed in every temple for the puja in uniforms as well as in plain clothes. Preparations have been made for the completion of Durga Puja in a peaceful and joyful atmosphere as usual.
Pabna Additional Superintendent of Police (Ishwardi Circle) said it has been decided to take strict security measures at Ishwardi where Durga Puja was performed peacefully. Due to the coronavirus, Durga Puja has been instructed to be careful and to meet the leaders of the Hindu community to observe the hygiene rules.
He said a control room would be open in 30 puja mandals of the upazila to maintain law and order during the puja with extra security. All-round security measures will be taken during the puja in the mandapa, temple and surrounding areas. Immediate action will be taken against anyone who engages in gambling or drunkenness in the Mandab area.