Drums and conches herald start of Durga Puja celebrations in Bangladesh

The biggest annual festival for Bengali Hindus will be observed at 33,355 venues across the country

The sound of drums, ululation, conch shells and temple bells filled Dhakeshwari National Temple in Dhaka as worshippers gathered to welcome the Goddess Durga.

At 9:10am on Sunday, the ghot (a water-filled pot) was placed beneath a bel tree to mark the start of Shashthi Puja with Shodashopachar and Kalparambha rituals. Preparations had begun at dawn, with priests and volunteers arranging offerings and puja materials.

With the Shashthi ceremony, the main formalities of Durga Puja, the largest annual festival of Bengali Hindus, officially began. The celebrations will end on Bijoya Dashami with the immersion of the idol.

According to tradition, the goddess leaves her husband’s celestial home to spend time at her father’s house on earth.

The unveiling of Durga’s face traditionally takes place on Shashthi, when she takes her place in the temple alongside her children.

“Kalparambha combines Sankalpa (pledge) and Arambha (beginning). Through this, we vow to the Goddess that her worship will be performed in full accordance with the rules,” said Pranab Chakraborty, a priest at Dhakeshwari Temple.

“Before Shashthi, the Goddess rests under the bel tree. On Saturday evening, during Bodhon, she was awakened from her slumber. Today, through puja and anjali (divine offerings), we prayed to the goddess for peace.”

Around 10:30am, devotees presented sandalwood paste, flowers, offerings and music at the feet of the Goddess. They prayed for the destruction of evil forces and the establishment of peace and goodwill in Bangladesh and beyond.

Hindu custom holds that Durga Puja is marked in three stages -- Mahalaya, Bodhon, and Sandhipuja.

According to the Hindu calendar, the goddess has arrived on an elephant this year, seen as a symbol of plentiful harvests. But her departure on a palanquin is regarded as an omen of epidemic.

Hindus believe that each autumn, Durga leaves Mount Kailash to visit her parents on earth in the form of a daughter. The festival runs for five days, ending with the immersion of idols on Dashami.

This year’s Durga Puja countdown began on Sept 21 with Mahalaya, which also marks the start of the festival’s rituals.

Durga Puja is being celebrated at 259 temples and pavilions in Dhaka city, seven more than last year. Nationwide, there are 33,355 puja venues, nearly a thousand more than last year.