Published: 11:52 PM, 16 October 2026
Durga Puja begins with invocation of Goddess
Sharadiya Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Bengali Hindu community, began with invocation of Goddess on Friday.
Various religious rituals including Kalparambha and Bihit Puja were held at Dhakeshwari National Temple in the morning as the six-day festival will continue till October 21.
MahanagarSarbajanin Puja Committee general secretary Suvasish Kumar Biswas Sadhan said the festival began in the morning with Maha Shashthi puja followed by offering Anjali by devotees and distribution of prasad.
On the occasion clothes were distributed among underprivileged people.
This year, Goddess Durga arrives on Ghotak (horse), which symbolizes dry spells, heavy rain, or an unstable period ahead, and departs by a Noka (boat), means bumper crop yield and agricultural prosperity.
A total of 33,851 mandaps across the country including 258 in the capital are hosting puja this year as the number of total mandaps increased by nearly 1,500 compared to last year, according to Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad.
President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in separate messages today greeted the memebsr of the Hindu community on the occasion.
On Maha Shashthi Friday, devotees performed Bodhan, the ceremonial awakening and invocation of Goddess Durga, marking the formal commencement of the festivities.
The main rituals of Durga Puja will begin on Maha Saptami tomorrow as the Saptamitithi falls on two days on Saturday and Sunday as per Bangla calendar this year.
Since morning devotees started thronging temples and makeshift Puja mandaps as Dhakeshwari temple was the center point of the festivity here.
Gulshan-Banan Puja Foundation is hosting the most lavish puja celebration at Kemal Ataturk Park in Banani as Jalaja, a theme inspired by water as the source of life, creation and divine power is being depicted at the Durga Puja mandap during the annual autumn festival.
It features an aquatic-inspired design combining traditional crafts, lighting and decorative elements to create an immersive experience for pandal hoppers, who visit from one shrine to another to admire religious art, lights, displays, and cultural themes of Puja.
Makeshift pandals at Kalabagan ground and Khamarbari have also become center of attractions for puja visitors in the capital nowadays as large makeshift mandaps have been erected along with eye-catching lighting which attracts visitors.
On MahaSaptami, the ritual of Nabapatrika, will be held tomorrow when nine plants representing different forms of the goddess are ceremonially bathed and worshipped. Devotees will take part in anjali after Saptami puja at temples across the country tomorrow morning.
On Monday, MahaAshtami will be celebrated when Kumari Puja will be held in a number of Puja Mandops. Kumari is the virgin form of Durga, and a an unmarried pre-pubescent girl (aged between one to 16 is worshipped as the living incarnation of the divine feminine and Goddess Durga with due religious fervor.
In the evening on Monday Sandhi Puja will be held featuring the transition time of Ashtami and Navami. It marks the exact moment Goddess Durga transformed into Chamunda to slay the demon brothers Chanda and Munda.
Devotees will celebrate MohaNobomi with religious fervor and enthusiasm on Tuesday. They throng puja mandaps and pandals, offering water, clothes, flowers, and gold and silver ornaments at the feet of the deity. MahaNavami will feature the concluding major worship rituals and offer 'bhog' on the next day.
On Wednesday, MohaDashami will be held when devotees will bid farewell to Goddess Durga and take the idols in procession to designated rivers, ponds and other water bodies for immersion, known as Bisarjan.
This year, the government extended Durga Puja holiday to three days in executive order in response to longstanding demands from the Hindu community.
Combined with the regular Friday and Saturday weekend holidays, the extension will provide a total five-day break between October 20 and 24.
Bangladesh Puja UdjapanParishad President BasudebDhar has thanked Prime Minister TariqueRahman for the extended holiday on Durga Puja.
Durga Puja carries deep religious and cultural significance for Bangladesh's Hindu community. It commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasura and symbolises the triumph of good over evil.
According to Hindu mythology, the deities combining their divine powers created Goddess Durga, who fought and ultimately defeated the Mahishasura.
Durga Puja is observed not only as a major religious occasion but also as an important part of Bangladesh's cultural heritage.
The festival brings together the members of the Hindu community and people from other faiths, reflecting the country's tradition of communal harmony and peaceful coexistence.
The government increased the funding for Durga Puja mandaps to Taka 5 crore from Taka 4 crore while rice allocation for the festival has also increased to 600 kg (0.6 metric tons) per puja mandap, up from 500 kg per mandap in previous years.
Necessary security measures have also been taken countrywide to ensure smooth puja celebration.
The authorities announced that it will use a mobile application previously deployed by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC) to strengthen monitoring during Durga Puja.
The app will facilitate the rapid dissemination of information about any untoward incident and help authorities respond quickly to maintain a peaceful and festive environment.
The Home Ministry earlier instructed relevant authorities to ensure uninterrupted electricity supplies at puja venues. Mandaporganisers have been asked to keep generators on standby round the clock and maintain rechargeable lights as an additional backup in case of power or generator failure.
