27,000 Puja mandops sprout for Hindu festival across Bangladesh

By Mizan Rahman
Dhaka

A total of 27,000 Puja mandops have been set up across Bangladesh this year for celebration of biggest Hindu religious festival Durga Puja in the country.

The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken its all-out security measures to guard the mandops across the country during the upcoming Durga Puja.

This was decided at a meeting with the high officials of the Home ministry and the leaders of the Hindu community held at the conference room of the Ministry in Dhaka with Home Minister Sahara Khatun in the chair.

The meeting was attended, among others, by State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku, Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hassan Mahmood Khandker, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner AKM Shahidul Haque and Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion Mokhlesur Rahman.

Among the leaders of the Hindu community, Major General (Retd) C R Dutta, Advocate Rana Dasgupta, Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Lion J L Bhowmik, Asim Kumar Ukil, Pangkoj Devnath, Mongol Chandra Chanda, Biresh Saha and Babul Devnath were present at the meeting.

Briefing the journalists, Sahara Khatun claimed that the number of Puja has increased this year compared to last year as the law and order situation of Bangladesh has improved a lot.

The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has earned huge public confidence during last 21 months tenure by giving non-stop services to the people, she said, adding that her government will do everything possible for ensuring safety and security to all citizens of the country like past.

Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told journalists that the authorities concerned will open separate control rooms at the Ministry, Police Headquarters, DMP headquarters and the Dhakeshwari Temple during the Puja festival.

The government will illuminate the Home Ministry, Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), High Court Bhaban and Parliament Bhaban during the festival.

The numbers of Puja mandops have increased to 193 from 171 in the capital Dhaka this year where adequate number of police, RAB and ‘Ansars’ would be deployed to maintain law and order, he said adding that close circuit cameras would also be set up to oversee the situation.

Separate generators would also be there for smooth celebrations of the festivals during load shedding, the Home Secretary added.

Special security measures would also be taken at all bus, launch and train terminals during the puja festival to ensure security to all, he added.

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Durga Puja begins with Mahalaya

Thu, Oct 7th, 2010 6:25 pm BdST Dial 2000 from your GP mobile for latest news

Dhaka, Oct 7 (bdnews24.com) — Festivities of the biggest Hindu event in Bangladesh, the Durga Puja, has begun with the Mahalaya, invoking of Goddess Durga. All the temples and pavilions of the country, including the Dhakeshwari temple, observed the rituals of Mahalaya early Thursday morning. The rituals started with chanting from sacred texts and were followed by worshipping after establishing Mangal Ghot. The rituals continue through the day. The main part of the festivity will start on Oct 13 through the Bodhon of the goddess. And it will terminate on Oct 17 with Bisarjan. "Mother Durga brings peace and welfare for all," Ranjeet Chakraborty, priest of the temple told bdnews24.com. The priest of Ramkrishna Mission, Swami Sthiratmananda, told bdnews24.com: "In fact, Mahalaya, Bodhon and Sandhipuja; these three form the main parts of Durga Puja." Jayanta Debnath, vice-president of Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee, said, "According to the Purana, the 'Devi Pakkha' (Fortnight of the Goddess) begins through Mahalaya and follows Pritripakkha." During the preceding fortnight, devotees offer 'Anna Jal' (rice–water) for the salvation of their forefathers, which is known as Tarpan in scripture, he added. Mahalaya marks the end of Tarpan fortnight and beginning of the goddess' fortnight. In this fortnight, devotees remember Abahan and Leela. Debnath also said Goddess Durga is born as the daughter of Katayani Muni in the previous evening of Mahalaya (Prak Sandha) to annihilate the demon Mahishashura. bdnews24.com/pc/ach/pks/ta/1557h

Hindu Leaders Express Concern at Desecrated Icons

Dhaka, Oct 7 (bdnews24.com) — Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad has expressed its concern over the vandalism of idols across the country and also demanded punishment of those responsible.

Moreover, the organisation on Thursday also demanded recovery of illegally occupied land and temples, giving all the festivals equal status, turning Hindu Welfare Trust into a foundation and declaring four days' holiday during the Durga Puja.

The festivities of the largest celebration of the Hindu community began on Thursday at 27,000 pavilions or Mandaps, with the Mahalaya, invoking of Goddess Durga.

The rituals started with chanting from sacred scriptures and were followed by worshipping after establishing Mangal Ghot. The rituals continue throughout the day.

The main part of the festivity will start on Oct 13 through the Bodhon of the goddess. And it will terminate on Oct 17 with Bisarjan.

At a views exchange meeting at the Dhakeshwari National Temple, the Parishad leaders said the festival this year has been observed in a new ambience, following annulment of the Fifth Amendment of the constitution that restored Bangladesh as a secular state.

But despite government move, some vested interest groups are still conspiring to harm communal harmony in the country, they alleged.

They narrated the incidents of idol vandalism in different areas including Barisal, Pirojpur, Magura, Gaibandha and the capital, claiming that at some places the police helped miscreants flee.

Parishad president Subrata Chowdhury, general secretary Mangal Chandra Ghose and advisor Maj Gen (retd) C R Dutta were also present at the meeting among others.

bdnews24.com/pc/ha/pks/am/2100h