Puja Udjapon Parishad calls for Durga immersion by 9pm on Bijoya Dashami

Hindu devotees have to finish the rituals of immersing the idol of Godess Durga on ‘Bijoya Dashami’ by 9pm on Oct 11.

Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad made the call at a press brief at Dhakeshwari National Temple in the capital on Friday.

Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Bengali Hindus, began with ‘Mohaloya’ which was also observed on Friday.

However festivities on a public scale will start  on Oct 7 and end with the immersion of the idol of Durga, the goddess of divine power and energy, on ‘Bijoya Dashami’ on Oct 11.

General Secretary of the committee Taposh Kumar Pal urged devotees to start the immersion rally by early evening and finish the rituals by 9pm on the day.

The order comes as Ashura, a festival of Muslims to commemorate the martyrdom of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SM), is slated on Oct 12.

“To preserve the sanctity of both the festivals, we have called our wing organisations across the country to make such arrangements,” said Taposh.

Last year, a number of terror attacks were led on leaders of minority religious groups.

However, such attacks did not take place in the last few months amid anti-militant drives by the police and the Rapid Action Battalion, he said.

The government had taken stern security measures this year, said Taposh.

However, he added: “We are not panicked, but we are not free of anxiety either.”

A total 29,074 ‘Puja Mandap’s' (place for worship of goddess Durga) were set up across the country during Durga Puja last year. This year, 29,395 'mandaps' will be set up across the country, the leader said.

The Puja celebrations committee also demanded formation of a “Hindu Foundation” instead of the existing Dhormiyo Kalyan Trust.

The official holiday for Durga Puja has been set on Oct 11 while the holiday for Ashura is slated on Oct 12.

Taposh demanded a three-day holiday for the Durga Puja, instead of one-day, and also asked for lighting important buildings in the city like the Bangabhaban, Ganabhaban and the Nagar Bhaban on the occasion.

The leaders also stated demand for supplying special meals to the prisoners on the day and ensure uninterrupted supply of power and pure water at the puja 'mandaps'.

Bangladesh Puja Celebrations Committee president Joyonto Sen Dipu was present among other leaders at the press meet.