Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Sept 4, 2026 (BSS) – Janmashtami, one of the major religious festivals of the Hindu community, commemorating the birth of Lord Sri Krishna, was celebrated across the country today with due religious fervour and gaiety.

On the occasion of Janmashtami, various programmes including special prayers for the welfare of the country and its people, Shri Shri Gita Joggo, colourful processions, discussions, recitation of the Shrimad Bhagavatam, Sondhya arati, kirtan and cultural programmes at temples across the country.

Central programme began at Dhakeshwari National Temple in the capital with a Gita Joggo conducted by Shankar Math and Mission of Sitakunda, Chattogram in the morning.

The main attraction of the festival was a colourful procession jointly organized by the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee and Dhakeshwari National Temple. 

The procession was brought out from Plassey intersection, and paraded through Jagannath Hall, Central Shaheed Minar, Doel Chattar, the High Court, Bangabazar, Dhaka South City Corporation building, Golap Shah Mazar, Gulistan intersection, Nawabpur Road and Ray Saheb Bazar intersection before ending at Bahadur Shah Park.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed addressed the inaugural ceremony of the historic Janmashtami procession at Plassey intersection as the chief guest.

Prime Minister’s Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Ethnic Affairs Special Assistant Bijon Kanti Sarker, Dhaka South City Corporation administrator Md. Abdus Salam, Hamidur Rahman, MP, and Vice Chairman of the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust Tapan Chandra Majumder, among others, addressed the gathering with Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee President Gopal Chandra Debnath in the chair.

After the discussion, Janmashtami procession was inaugurated by lighting lamps.

A large number of people joined the Janmashtami procession. Devotees participated in the procession dressed and decorated in representations of various episodes from Lord Krishna’s life, including Krishna’s chariot, the divine pair of Radha and Krishna, Kansa’s prison, and Ram-Sita and Lava-Kusha.

Devotees from different upazilas around Dhaka, in addition to those from the Dhaka metropolitan area, gathered around Dhakeshwari Temple, Plassey intersection and adjoining areas in trucks, mini-trucks, pickup vans, horse-drawn carriages and elephants to participate in the procession.

Various temples and Hindu organizations across the capital also took part in the procession, presenting different scenes while maintaining the religious character of the celebration.

Meanwhile, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Bangladesh has been observing a three-day programme since Thursday to celebrate the grand festival of Lord Krishna’s birth anniversary.

As part of the celebrations, Shrimad Bhagavatam recitation, a Kirtan Mela and a discussion meeting were held at ISKCON Swamibag Ashram today. This was followed in the evening by Sandhya Arati, recitation of Shri Krishna Lilamrita, and a grand Abhishek ceremony of Lord Krishna at night.

On the occasion, Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private satellite television channels broadcast special programmes. Besides, various temples, puja mandaps and religious organizations, including Ramna Kali Temple, Bordeshwari  Kalimata Temple in Rajarbagh and Mirpur Central Temple, organized programmes to mark Janmashtami.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman exchanged greetings with prominent members of the Hindu community and distributed honorariums among priests and sebaits at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital this morning.

Religious Affairs Ministry and the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust jointly organised the programme attended by leading representatives of the Hindu community, religious leaders, eminent citizens, and priests and sebaits from different parts of the country.

The day was a public holiday.

Lord Sri Krishna is the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Krishna was born in Mathura on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada. 

Krishna's birth symbolises the triumph of good over evil. Lord Krishna is revered for his teachings and wisdom. His teachings in the Bhagavad Gita are considered a guide to living a meaningful and purposeful life.

It is believed that he incarnates in every age to protect the virtuous from the wicked and to establish truth, justice, and beauty in society.