The mandap authorities and artisans are passing busy time as preparations are going on to celebrate the five-day Durga Puja, the greatest religious festival of the Sanatan community, with due religious fervour in Rangpur division.
Local leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad said the celebrations will begin from October 22 and end on October 26 next with the ‘Bijoya Dashami’ carnival and immersion of the idols of goddess Durga in water bodies.
Officials of Rangpur Range Office of Bangladesh Police said Durga Puja will be celebrated peacefully at over 5,200 mandaps in all eight districts of Rangpur division abiding by the health directives in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
An adequate number of members of police forces along with members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-13, Highway Police, Ansar-VDP and community police will be deployed to ensure peaceful celebrations of Durga Puja across the division.
Talking to BSS today, Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RpMP) Commissioner Abdul Alim Mahmud said the Sanaton community will celebrate ‘Sharodiyo’ Durga Puja at 164 mandaps in the metropolis this year.
“We will take ample security measures to ensure peaceful celebrations of the greatest religious festivity of the Sanatan community at all Puja mandaps located under the RpMP’s jurisdictions,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Asib Ahsan said 939 Durga Puja mandaps are being erected this year in all eight upazilas, Rangpur metropolis and three municipalities across the district.
“We have started distribution of 469.50 tons of rice with 500kg among each of the 939 mandap authorities across the district to assist the Sanaton community in celebrating the Durga Puja festivity,” he added.
Similarly, the district administrations have already started distribution of 500kg rice among each of the Puja mandaps erected in all other seven districts in Rangpur division.
Talking to BSS, artisans Adyta Sen, Manoranjan Paul and Anil Kumar Paul at different Puja mandaps in Rangpur city said they are passing busiest time to erect and complete colouring of the idols of goddess Durga with artistic creativity.
Artisans Shyamal Dutta and Amrita Paul said their artisan groups are erecting the idols of goddess Durga at different Puja mandaps in the city adjoining areas since last month this year.
“After completing all major works by the middle of October, we will give the finishing touches to the idols with different colours to make those more charming and eye-catching in looks by October 20 next,” said artisan Amrita Paul.
Similarly, artisans Sukumar Paul, Raj Kumar and Shushanto Karmaker said they are erecting five mandaps in Hakimpur upazila of Dinajpur and trying their best to make those more attractive.
Hakimpur upazila Chairman Harun Ur Rashid said adequate steps would be taken for ensuring peaceful celebrations of the Durga Puja at all mandaps in the upazila.
Similarly, artisan Mithu Malakar of Rajarhat upazila of Kurigram said his group of artisans is erecting some 20 sets of idols of goddess Durga in the upazila.
Talking to BSS, Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Zakir Hossain said the district and upazila administrations and law enforcement agencies will take sufficient security steps for ensuring peaceful celebrations of Durga Puja across the division.
