Khulna, Octy 04 (V7N)- Only few days left for Durga Puja.  Autumn Durga Puja, the main religious festival of Sanatan Dharma followers, begins every year.  And last minute preparations are going on in the puja mandaps of Khulna based on this festival.  Already the idol making has been completed in most places, painting and decoration work is going on.

Durga festival will be celebrated in 991 pavilions in Khulna district this year.  Among them, there are 101 mandaps in the city.  However, the Khulna district administration says that this number will increase further.

The Durga Puja ceremony will begin next Tuesday (October 8) with the Bodhan of the Goddess.  Sharidiya Durga Festival will end on Saturday (October 12) with Bisarjan and procession on Dasami.  Meanwhile, around this biggest festival of Sanatan religion devotees, just as the busyness of idol artists has increased in the mandapam, on the other hand, Sanatan religionists have gathered in the shopping malls of the city to shop for Puja.

Shibbari Temple, Dharamsabha, Shitalabari, Barabazar, Pujokhola and many other worship temples of the city can be visited, idol artists are very busy in the temples.  In most of the temples, the construction of idols has already been completed, now the process of painting Goddess Durga with colors is going on.

He came from Ashashuni in Satkhira to the Dharamsabha temple in the city, Chandrashekhar Mandal, for the purpose of making the idol.  He said that this time the number of puja mandap is less than other times.  So our number of jobs has also decreased.  This time I got only four idols.  Last 10-15 days ago I started the clay work here, now the color work is going on.

It is known that, according to the directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Religion, members of Ansar will be permanently deployed in all places of worship.  Along with this, joint forces including army, navy, coast guard, police will patrol during the festival days before the puja begins.  Closed circuit cameras will be installed in the worship hall.  Disciplinary action will be taken if rumors or false information are spread on social media.  Arrangements will be made to dedicate the idol by 7 pm.  Musical instruments will be stopped during Azan and Namaz.  Control room will be open 24 hours at DC office, UNO and Superintendent of Police office.

It is to be noted that this year Durga Puja will be organized in 101 in Mahanagar, 113 in Batiaghata, 214 in Terkhada, 107 in Dumuria and 155 in Paikgacha out of 991 pujamandaps in Khulna district.  Besides, Durga Puja will be held in 84 temples in Dakop, 63 in Dighlia, 34 in Phultala, 74 in Rupsa and 46 in Koira Upazila.

END/SDA/AJ