DHAKA, Oct 17, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP)
leaders today called upon the country’s Hindu community to celebrate
the Durga Puja with maintaining health guidelines properly keeping
intact the religious rituals.
They made the call at a view-exchange meeting with journalists
marking the Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of Bangalee
Hindu community, on the premises of Dhakeshwari National Temple here.
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP) President Milan Kanti Dutta
chaired the meeting moderated by its General Secretary Nirmal Kumar
Chattarjee. Puja Udjapan Parishad leaders JL Bhowmik, Soilendranath
Majumder, Advocate Shyamal Roy, Shubhashish Biswas Sadhan and Biplab
Dey were present, among others.
Milan Kanti Dutta said Kumar Puja, a ritual performed on the day of
Maha Ashtami during the five-day festival, will not be held at any
temple in Dhaka in the wake of coronavirus but it could be performed
at some temples outside of Dhaka.
Nirmal Kumar Chattarjee said all religious rituals will be perfumed
properly but extravaganza marking the festival will be avoided this
year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Special prayers will be offered on the day of Maha Saptami seeking
recovery of the world community from the coronavirus pandemic, he
said.
Offering of Anjali, he said, will be held on virtual media at some
temples while not more than twenty five to 50 devotees will be allowed
in offering Anjali physically at a time at temples.
Chattarjee said directives have been given to organizers of Durga
Puja to shut down temples by 9pm after Sandhya Arati to avoid
transmission of coronavirus.
Recently, Health Services Division issued directives for
maintaining health guidelines during the Durga Puja in the wake of
coronavirus outbreak.
According to the instructions, while entering the puja mandap, one
has to maintain health guidelines, including social distancing, using
hand sanitizer and wearing mask.
Hand washing facilities, sanitizers and thermal scanner should be
ensured at the entry points of puja mandaps.
No procession will be allowed at the time of immersion of the
goddess Durga. Prashad distribution, arati (dance competition) and
cultural festivals should be avoided.
Earlier on October 4, the Home Ministry gave some instructions to
ensure the security of the puja mandaps and maintain law and order.
The Puja Udjapan Committees are asked to dial 999 for emergency
help or support, if needed.
The annual five-day “Sharodiya Durgotsab” will begin with the
unveiling of the face of the deity and Kalparambho on the day of Maha
Sashthi on October 22 (Thursday).
The incarnation (Bodhon) of the Goddess Durga will be held on
October 21 (Wednesday) on Maha Panchami, a day before Maha Maha
Sashthi at temples across the country.
Maha Saptami puja will be performed on October 23 (Friday), Maha
Ashtami, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja on October 24 (Saturday) and Maha
Nabami Puja on October 25 (Sunday).
The festival will end with the immersion of the idols of the
Goddess Durga on Bijoya Dashami on October 26.
The Mahalaya, the auspicious occasion heralding the advent of
goddess Durga, was celebrated on September 17 last.
Durga Puja will be arranged at 30,225 puja mandaps across the
country this year.
In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the number of puja mandaps
decreased by 1,173 as Durga Puja was arranged at 31,398 mandaps across
the country last year.
A total of 233 puja mandaps will arrange Durga Puja in the capital
while the number was 237 last year.
Durga Puja will be arranged at 7014 mandaps in Dhaka division, 3906
in Chattogram, 4689 in Khulna, 2646 in Sylhet, 1584 in Mymensingh,
1701 in Barishal, 5250 in Rangpur and 3,435 in Rajshahi division this
year.