Durga Puja to be held at 737 venues in Jashore this year

Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of Bangalee Hindu community, will be celebrated at 737 venues across eight upazilas of Jashore district this year, 28 more than the number recorded last year.

According to Jashore Puja Udjapan Parishad as part of the celebrations, 101 idols will be displayed at Shreehari Temple in Barmanpara, Chanchra under Jashore Sadar Upazila in what organizers describe as the one of the large-scale arrangements in the region.

The celebration will begin with Maha Shashthi on October 16 while it will end with immersion of idols on the day of Bijaya Dashami on October 21.

Idol makers are now busy with preparing the idols across the district. The basic structures of the idols, made of straw, reeds and clay, are nearing completion, with painting work expected to begin within the next few days.

Shankar Mondal, a clay artiste at Bejpara Sarbojonin Puja Temple in Jashore town, said he is making 37 idols this year as he is working around the clock to complete them and deliver them on schedule.

Shimul Barman, an organizer of Barmanpara Durga Puja, said that the display of 101 idols would be a special attraction this year. He expressed hope that the event would draw visitors from different parts of the region.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources and Jashore-3 constituency lawmaker Aninda Islam Amit has asked police and other law-enforcement agencies to ensure full security at puja venues across the district.

Jashore Superintendent of Police Syed Rafiqul Islam said all necessary measures were being taken to ensure that Durga Puja could be celebrated peacefully and without fear.

Dipankar Das Ratan, president of the district Puja Celebration Council, said organizers had been instructed not to play DJ music at the venues, instead using devotional songs.