GOPALGANJ, Oct 9, 2023 (BSS) - Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community, will be celebrated at 1301 mandaps in the district this year.

The five-day long festival will begin on October 20 with due respect and religious fervor across the country and end on October 24 with immersion of the idols of goddess Durga and other deities.

Dr. Asit Kumar Mallik, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Gopalganj district unit said, 351 mandaps will be erected in Sadar upazila, 325 in Kotalipara upazila, 299 in Muksudpur upazila, 232 in Kashiani upazila and 94 in Tungipara upazila of the district.

Decoration, beautification and lighting work is going on in full swing in the mandaps. The work of making idols has been completed. Painting work has started in some mandaps, he said.

Deputy Commissioner Office sources said all kinds of administrative steps will be taken to organize autumn Durga Puja in a festive atmosphere. The district administration and the law enforcement forces will carry out joint duties for this purpose.

District Police official said stringent security measures have been taken for smooth holding of the puja all over the district and law enforcement agencies will be in place to ensure smooth celebration.

The monitoring team will work at the district and upazila level, Dr. Asit Kumar Mallik, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Gopalganj district unit said.

District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Md. Ashraful Haque said the list of mandaps has been sent to the Directorate of Disaster Management for rice allocation.