Durga Puja in the air

Preparations for Durga Puja are in full swing across Bangladesh, with artists giving final touches to idols and workers decorating temples, building pandals and installing lights ahead of the Hindu community’s biggest religious festival.

A visit to several puja venues in the capital over the past three days found artists shaping and painting idols of Goddess Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, Ganesh and the demon Mahishasura. Using bamboo, straw and clay, they are completing the figures ahead of the celebrations.

Workers are also cleaning temple grounds, repairing structures, painting walls and building stages and pandals. Preparations are under way for fairs held at many puja venues during the festival.

Durga Puja will begin on October 16 and end on October 21.

Mahalaya, marking the beginning of Devipaksha, was observed on Saturday.

This year, the festival will span six days instead of the usual five because of a change in the lunar calendar, with Mahasaptami worship scheduled over two days.

According to the schedule, the rituals will begin with the Bodhon of the goddess on the evening of October 15, Maha Panchami. The main worship will start on October 16, Maha Shashthi, with invitation and Adhibas rituals in the evening.

Mahasaptami will be observed on October 17 and again on October 18. Maha Ashtami and Kumari Puja will take place on October 19, followed by Maha Nabami on October 20.

The festival will conclude on October 21 with Bijoya Dashami, when the idols will be immersed in water.
Artists, organisers and workers are now racing to complete the arrangements at puja venues across the country.