Durga Puja begins Friday as Goddess arrives on horseback

The Hindu community is set to celebrate Sharadiya Durga Puja, its biggest religious festival, from Friday (October 16).

According to the Bengali calendar, Maha Saptami will span Saturday (October 17) and Sunday (October 18), with the main rituals beginning on the following day. During Maha Saptami, devotees will perform the Nabapatrika ritual, in which nine plants representing different forms of the goddess are ceremonially bathed and worshipped.

Maha Ashtami will be observed on Monday (October 19), with Sandhi Puja-- performed at the transitional moment between Ashtami and Nabami-- being one of the festival's key rituals.


According to Hindu religious beliefs and traditional almanac calculations, Goddess Durga will descend from heaven to the mortal world on horseback this year, while returning to her celestial abode on a boat.

The festival holds deep religious and cultural significance for Hindus, symbolising the triumph of good over evil through Goddess Durga's victory over the demon king Mahishasura.

According to Hindu mythology, Mahishasura had received a boon that made him invulnerable to death at the hands of any man. As his power threatened the gods, they combined their divine energies to create Goddess Durga, who ultimately defeated and killed him.


With the festival just a day away, idol-makers and artisans are working against the clock to complete the final touches on Durga idols at workshops across the country.

The government has announced enhanced security arrangements, increased financial assistance for puja committees and an extended holiday period for this year's celebrations.


Under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's directives, government assistance for Durga Puja venues has been increased from Tk 4 crore to Tk 5 crore.

The number of puja venues has also risen by around 1,500 from last year to 33,851, according to the information provided.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed the relevant authorities to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to puja venues throughout the celebrations.

Durga Puja is not only a major religious occasion for Bangladesh's Hindu community but also an important part of the country's cultural heritage. The festival brings together people from different religious backgrounds and reflects Bangladesh's tradition of communal harmony and peaceful coexistence.