Thousands of devotees on Wednesday joined the 'Mahanabami' ritual at temples and makeshift mandaps as the five-day Durga Puja ends with the immersion of Devi Durga and other deities today.
Organisers in the capital and reports coming from different parts of the country said that members of the Hindu community thronged some 28,000 mandaps,
including 199 in the capital city.
They said Wednesday's Mahanabami, the fourth day of Durga Puja, began in the morning with devotional offering called 'Maha-arati', a ritual administered by the Hindu priests at temples and mandaps and distribution of 'prosads' or sweets and fruits.
Leaders of the Bangladesh Central Puja Celebration Council said preparations are underway for the ceremonial immersion of the clay-made statues of Durga on the concluding day of the festival called Bijoyadashami today.
Tomorrow is a public holiday. On the day of Bijayadsahami, Dashami
Bihit Puja will be held at different puja mandaps by 9:57 in the morning,
while all formalities will end with the immersion of
Devi Durga and other goddesses.
The Dhakeshwari National Temple is to witness the biggest celebration today as the deity Durga will be escorted in colourful processions to the Sadarghat river port to be immersed, the grand ritual to be followed by Bijaya rally or victory procession.
The programmes of the Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee include voluntary blood donation at Dhakeswari National Temple at 12:00 noon and Bijaya rally at 4:00pm in the afternoon.
Bangladesh Television as well as private TV and radio channels will broadcast special programmes, while national newspapers will bring out special articles on the occasion.
The president, Zillur Rahman, will host a reception at Bangabhaban at 11:00am for leaders of the Hindu community on the occasion of Durga Puja.
President of Bangladesh Central Puja Celebration Council Subrata Chowdhury and general secretary Mangal Chandra Ghosh greeted the countrymen in a joint statement on the eve of the Bijayadashami.
They thanked all including the political parties, the government and law enforcement agencies for their assistance in celebrating the Durga Puja in a festive mood.
On behalf of the Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad, major general (retd) CR Datta and Rana Dasgupta also greeted the countrymen on the occasion.
