Durga Puja begins today

[Guest guest]

DAKKA, Bangladesh (September 28, 2006): Blowing conches, ringing

bells and cymbals, and booming dhak (drums) amid high-pitched

ululation, Hindu devotees today herald the five-day Durga Puja

celebrations across the country.

 

Following the lunar schedule, Bodhon ritual and Mahashashthi puja

will be held in the morning and the Adhibash of Devi (Goddess) Durga

in the evening today.

 

The Hindus believe that the Goddess -- accompanied by her children

Ganesh, Kartik, Lakshmi and Saraswati -- descends on the earth

today, the Mahashashthi, at the supplication of the devotees and

stays for the next four days.

 

Accordingly, Mahasaptami will be celebrated on Friday, Maha Astami

on Saturday, Mahanabami on Sunday and Bijoya Dashami on Monday.

 

The ten-handed Durga, the slayer of demon Mahishashur, is lion-

borne, wielding an array of arms including kripan, chakra, gada, and

bow and arrow.

 

Building of the puja mandaps and preparations for the rituals are

already complete as goddess Durga will be displayed in the act of

killing Mahishashur. Offerings of delicious foods, fruits, incense

etc will be made to the goddess and later distributed among the

assembled devotees.

 

The main puja mandap in the capital is at Dhakeshwari National

Temple. Large mandaps have also been put up at Jagannath Hall in

Dhaka University, Ramkrishna Mission, Ramna Kali Mandir, Siddheswari

Kali Mandir, Tanti Bazar, Shankhari Bazar, Bangla Bazar, Mohakhali

and Farmgate.

 

Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad has directed its district

committees not to use loudspeakers and musical instruments during

Iftar, Tarabi and Sehri so as not to disturb the fasting Muslims.

The parishad leaders said 'dhak' can be used only for a while during

the worship and Sandhya Arati.

 

Meanwhile, leaders of Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian-Oikya

Parishad, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Mahanagar Sarbajaneen

Puja Committee, Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Parishad and Bangladesh

Christian Association yesterday alleged that the images of Durga had

been damaged at several places in Dhaka, Jessore, Pirojpur, Narail,

Narayanganj, Kushtia, Sunamganj, Natore and Sirajganj districts.

 

Identifying 'vulnerable' puja mandaps, the government has formed a

monitoring cell and set up a security control room while around one

lakh and 22 thousand ansars along with police, BDR and Rab will be

deployed to maintain security of the mandaps during the puja

celebrations, home ministry sources said.

 

President Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Leader of

the Opposition Sheikh Hasina have felicitated the Hindus on the eve

of the festival.

 

SOURCE: The Daily Star, Dakka, Bangladesh

URL: http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/09/28/d60928011610.htm