Hindus across the country are celebrating the “Langalbandh Snan,” also known as the “Mohashtamir Snan Utshob,” one of the biggest Hindu festivals on the banks of the Brahmaputra along the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
The celebrations had been suspended for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Friday night Hindu devotees from around the country gathered to celebrate the festival that started at 9:11pm and will end on Saturday at 11:08 pm.
As the day progressed, more and more people flocked to the 18 ghats in Langalbandh for the holy bath to erase their sins.
Over 1,500 law enforcers have been deployed to ensure the security of the pilgrims, according to the superintendent of Narayanganj police.
Held every year at Langalbandh- a Hindu holy place on the bank of the Brahmaputra, the festival takes place on the 8th day of a lunar fortnight in the Bengali month of Chaitra.
According to Langalbandh Snan Udjapon Committee, this year nearly a million devotees will take part in the festival.
Pratik Shaha, who was there with his wife and daughter, has been waiting for two years for his turn.
“I’ve been waiting a long time but haven’t been able to get down for the bath. The ghats are all right but there are too many people,” he said.
According to district administration sources, police, ansar, fire services, medical teams and ambulances are ready to tackle any emergency.
Narayanganj Superintendent of Police Zaidul Alam told Dhaka Tribune that a three-tier security system has been set up with plainclothes men patrolling the area.
Besides, Naval Police, Coast Guard and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority are also working.
Moreover, around 30 kilometres of the area have been equipped with CCTV cameras and 47 tube wells and 25 water tanks have been arranged so that devotees have an adequate supply of drinking water.
Temporary changing rooms and toilets have also been set up.
Meanwhile, there is a long tailback at the Dhaka-Chittagong highway due to the festival. Traffic jams were reported in Madanpur, Kanchpur and Chittagong Road areas.
On the other hand, Dr Alaul Dipu, residential medical officer (RMO) at Bandar Upazila Health Complex, said some 33 people have been admitted to the facility with diarrhea, including 20 police officers who were on duty at the Langalbandh Snan festival.
Among them, nine people have been discharged after receiving primary medical treatment.
He told Dhaka Tribune that the festival's shared public toilets may have been the reason behind people becoming ill.
District Superintendent of Police (SP) Zaidul Alam said around 15-16 police officers complained about stomach aches and nausea at the festival. “Two officers are still receiving treatment at the hospital.”
