Maha Saptami celebrated across country

Maha Saptami was celebrated across Bangladesh on Saturday as devotees of Hindu community visited temples and worshipped Goddess Durga. This year, the Saptami timing falls on both Saturday and Sunday, according to the Bengali 
calendar.

The main rituals of Maha Saptami took place on Saturday morning, with devotees gathering at temples and puja mandaps across the country to offer prayers and flowers to the goddess.

The morning rituals began with a special bath for the goddess. Her reflection was placed in a mirror and bathed according to religious customs. This was followed by the setting up of the Nabapatrika, also known as “Kola Bou”. The rituals also included the opening of the goddess’s eyes as part of the worship.

After the rituals, devotees offered flowers and bel leaves while chanting mantras and praying to Goddess Durga for peace and well-being. The sound of dhak drums, bells and conch shells filled the puja mandaps during the worship.

The annual Durga Puja festival began on Friday with Maha Shashthi. The six-day festival will end on October 21 with Bijoya Dashami, when the idols of the goddess will be immersed.

Special security measures have been taken in Dhaka and other parts of the country to ensure peaceful celebrations. Additional members of the Ansar, police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been deployed at puja mandaps. Volunteers are also helping maintain security at most venues.

A central control room has been set up at the Dhakeshwari National Temple complex by the Mahanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee to monitor the celebrations.