Durga Puja pavilion in Chittagong focuses on need for protection

But for the idols and the beat of drums, this could well be mistaken for an exhibition of protest highlighting the need for protection of the faith.

The Panchabarhi Durga Puja pavilion at Chittagong's Patharghata is a symbolic display of protest on attacks on Hindus in different parts of Bangladesh. Photo: Mintu Chowdhury The Panchabarhi Durga Puja pavilion at Chittagong's Patharghata is a symbolic display of protest on attacks on Hindus in different parts of Bangladesh. Photo: Mintu Chowdhury

The theme of a Puja pavilion at Chittagong's Andarkilla is based on the ongoing wars across the world causing large-scale displacement. Photo: Mintu Chowdhury The theme of a Puja pavilion at Chittagong's Andarkilla is based on the ongoing wars across the world causing large-scale displacement. Photo: Mintu Chowdhury

Durga Puja begins with Maha Shashthhi rituals

At Chittagong's Patharghata, the organisers of the Panchbarhi Durga Puja Committee have decorated the pavilion with newspapers reporting atrocities on Hindus in different parts of the country.

"We want to pray for the destruction of the demons of intolerance. That is what we want Devi Durga to do," says the committee's president Surojit Chowdhury.

He told bdnews24.com: “This is a symbolic display of protest at what is happening in parts of the country. All we want is to live in peace in our own country.”

The five-day Durga Puja festival started on Monday with ‘Sasthhi’ Puja rituals and will end on Friday with ‘Bisorjon’ or immersion of the idols.

For Bengali Hindus, this is the biggest festival, one that is celebrated with considerable pomp and show across Bangladesh and India.

But the sporadic atrocities on the Hindus in parts of Bangladesh by fundamentalists have cast a shadow over the celebrations.

In Satkhira, miscreants smashed idols in many pavilions before the celebrations, forcing police to adopt strict security measures in areas where the Durga Puja is being organised.

Another Durga Puja pavilion at Chittagong's Andarkilla has a contemporary theme.

The pavilion at Andarkilla’s Hazari Lane shows people in a sinking ship crying out for Durga's help and the Goddess coming down to earth to rescue them.

The Puja pavilion of Hazari Lane at Chittagong's Andarkilla.

"Human traffickers and war-mongers have endangered humanity. Thousands are sinking in the oceans because of them," said Jawaharlal Hazari, president of the Hazari Lane Puja Committee and a local ward councillor.

"These are the Asuras (demons) of our times and we seek Durga's help to destroy them," he told bdnews24.com.

Many other Puja pavilions in the port city have contemporary themes.

Puja organisers say they are happy with the law and order situation.

"Two more days are left for the Durga Puja, but so far so good," said Ratnakar Das Tunu, General Secretary of the Chittagong City Durga Puja Celebration Committee.

Elsewhere in Bangladesh, the Durga Puja is being celebrated with much enthusiasm.

There was rush of devotees at Dhakeswari Temple, Ramna Kalibarhi and Ramkrishna Mission in Dhaka.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday visited the Dhakeswari Temple.