MYMENSINGH, Nov 12, 2023 (BSS) - Kali Puja or Shyama Puja, the second largest festival after Durga Puja of Bangalee Hindu community, began this evening in the city with worshiping goddess Kali, lighting earthen lamps, candles at temples and residences amid due religious fervor and enthusiasm.
 
Kali Puja is also called Deepabali or Diwali, the festival of lights.
 
Kali Puja, worshipping the Goddess of strength, wisdom and enlightenment, is celebrated at the night of Amavasya of the Bangla month of Kartik (October or November).

Amavasya Tithi starts at 02.45pm today and it will end at 02:57am on Monday, so puja will be offered within the period.

The country's one of the most gorgeous celebrations of Kali puja takes place in Mymensingh apart from Dhaka's Shakhari Bazar-Tanti-Bazar as idols and pandals are kept for five to six days to allow the devotees celebrate the festival for long.
 
Puja Udjapan Parishad's Mymensingh district unit joint general secretary said this year puja pandals will be kept till November 16 as immersion of idols goddess kali will be held on that day with great fanfare and enthusiasm.
 
Marking the festival, members of the Hindu community lit up earthen lamps (Pradeep) at their houses, temples and crematoriums in memory of their departed elderly persons.

This year, the celebration is being held with the theme "Mongol Aloy Dur Hok Amongoler Sakal Andhar" or "May all evil darkness be removed by sacred light".
 
Sankar Saha said puja is being celebrated at over 1000 temples and makeshift pandals in the district while 200 puja mandaps in the city are celebrating the puja.
 
After lighting up earthen lamps and candles at temples and residences in the evening, firecrackers like tarabarji and potka are being burst while fireworks are also taking places some places.

Biggest celebrations are taking place are Ampotti, Durgabari, Atharobari, Boro Bazar, Shehra temples in the city.

Devotees started visiting temples since afternoon today while the temples and makeshift puja mandaps are witness massive number of crowds since evening today.

City mayor Ikramul Haque Titu, divisional commissioner Umme Salma Tanjia, DIG Shah Abid Hossain, deputy commissioner Mostafizur Rahman, police super Masum Ahmed Bhuiyan along with Puja Udjapan Parishad leaders visited different temples this evening on the occasion of Kali Puja.

The festival formally began at Durgabari temple as the guests inaugurated the festival by lighting up earthen lamps, said Sankar Saha, also Durgabari puja committee leader.

Tight security measures have been taken to ensure peaceful celebration of the puja.

Offering of puja to goddess Kali will be held in the midnight tonight which will be followed by offering of anjali and distribution of prashad while Joggo and bali will take place at some temples.

Some devotees also lit up earthen lamps at crematorium as well marking the puja in memory of ancestors.