Dhaka, Oct 13 (BDNEWS) – Amidst unprecedented security around temples and temporary worship places across the country, the festival of Durga Puja ended Thursday almost peacefully with immersion of the images.
A few stray incidents happened in some places during the festival, but they could not diminish the festivity. Even the government too apprehended some untoward occurrences in the wake of a recent series of bomb blasts by the Islamic militants across the country.
"We are grateful to the government for stringent security measures that ensured safety for the worshippers," Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, said adding, "It proves that if the government is sincere, it can ensure a better communal harmony in the country."
He also greeted the countrymen on the occasion of Bijoya Dashami (the victorious 10th of lunar month) irrespective of caste and creed and thanked all for helping peaceful celebration of the Durga Puja, the greatest religious festival of the Hindu community in Bangladesh.
Advocate Chowdhury, however was troubled over some untoward incidents in Narsingdi and Bashkhali in Chittagong on the occasion.
A bomb was blasted at a puja mandap at Narsingdi Wednesday night making the worshippers panicky.
The festival committee at Bashkhali in Chittagong had to immerse the idols on Shashthi (sixth day of lunar month) fearing fundamentalist attack, Chowdhury said adding local law-enforcing agencies refused to provide security.
This year the Hindu community organised Durga puja at 145 sites under 20 thana in the capital. The highest number of 36 puja mandaps were set up at Sutrapur Thana area while Motijheel, Dhanmondi and Khilgaon thana areas had one pandal each.
Though the government claims that there were 22,000 of puja mandaps across the country, but the Hindu community leaders said the number was around 16,000.
The immersion ceremony began in the city with the immersion of the idols of Pranab Muth of KM Das Lane at 2:25 pm in the river Buriganga. The other idols from different places in the city were brought to Wise Ghat, where most of the idols were immersed.
Besides, the ghats (riverside stairs) at Lalkuthi, Farashganj and Mirpur cross-dam were also used for the purpose. Worshippers of Demra and Shyampur areas immersed their idols in the Shitalakkhya.
BDNEWS/2040 hrs
