Hindus across Bangladesh on Sunday are celebrating Mahalaya, the auspicious occasion that heralds the advent of the Goddess Durga.
Considered a ceremonial invocation of the Goddess Durga, Mahalaya is observed a week prior to Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community.
Hindus believe the earth prepares itself and welcomes the coming of the goddess and her children, through the celebrations.
Durga Puja will begin on October 1 on the day of Maha Shashthi. The Goddess Durga will come to Earth (Martyalok) riding an elephant (gaja) through Maha Sashthi Puja this year.
For Mahalaya, Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee has arranged special programs at Dhakeshwari Temple from 6am on Sunday.
On this day, Hindus remember and pay homage to their deceased ancestors by performing puja, and offering Brahmins clothes, food and sweets in their names.
This year there will be 32,168 Puja mandaps across the country.
Installation of CCTV cameras has been made compulsory at all puja mandaps ahead of Durga Puja to ensure security, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan earlier said.
To ensure security at the puja mandaps, additional forces will be deployed as per necessary.
Besides, Durga Puja organizers have been told to deploy volunteers to ensure security. The authorities concerned have been asked to provide wristbands to volunteers that will help the police identify them.