Dhaka, Sep 28 (V7N) – The biggest festival of the Bengali Hindu community, Durga Puja, begins today (Sunday) with Mahasashti, marking the formal invocation of Goddess Durga. Since morning, preparations have been underway at the Dhakeshwari National Temple to welcome the Goddess.

Today, Durga will be seated to the accompaniment of incense burners, panchapradeeps, conch shells, uludhwani and the rhythmic beat of dhak. The main formalities will commence with the installation of the Bodhan ghat.

According to the calendar, the invocation (bodhan) and residence of the Goddess will take place today between 11:11 am and 11:11 pm. The bodhan ritual will be performed in the evening at Dhakeshwari temple, where devotees are preparing with enthusiasm to welcome the Goddess.

This year, 33,000 mandaps across the country are hosting the autumn Durga Puja. To ensure smooth celebrations, Ansar, police, RAB, BGB, and army personnel have been deployed for security, and CCTV cameras have been installed at every mandap.

The five-day festival will conclude with the immersion of the Goddess on Vijaya Dashami, Thursday, October 2.

END/SMA/AJ