Muslim Bangladesh celebrates Janmashtami

August 14, 2009

Thu, Aug 13 08:49 PM

Anisur Rahman Dhaka, Aug 13 (PTI) Muslim majority Bangladesh today celebrated Janmashtami with devotional songs and beating drums, while President Zillur Rahman and Premier Sheikh Hasina extended greetings to the people on the occasion. Colourful street marches joined by hundreds of men, women and children beating drums and playing bugles featured the Janmashtami, Lord Krishna''s birthday with festivities while Rahman hosted a reception for distinguished members of the community at the Bangabhaban presidential palace.

Hasina had yesterday hosted another reception for leaders of the Hindu faiths at her official residence and main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Khaleda Zia issued a statement greeting them on the occasion. The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh while the members of the Hindu community constitute nearly 12 per cent of country''s 130 million populations.

Mayor of Dhaka Sadek Hossain Khoka inaugurated the main Janmashtami procession at Palashi area of the city as it paraded the main thoroughfares with the marchers carrying the images of Lord Krishna, sketches on different events of his life with choirs of religious songs amid rhythm of drumbeat. The other programmes of the day included puja, prayer and Geeta Yagya, discussions, cultural functions, distribution of `prasad'' and feeding to the poor while tight security was in place around the festival grounds and temples.

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