Preparations for the celebration of Sharadiya
Durga Puja, the biggest religious and cultural festival for the Bengali Hindu community, at 1,317 mandaps across 13 upazilas of the district are nearing completion.
According to district police and the district Puja Udjapan Parishad, idol-making and other preparations are underway at 167 mandaps in Sadar upazila,112 in Biral, 166 in Parbatipur, 63 in Phulbari, 158 in Chirirbandar, 81 in Bochaganj, 132 in Khansama, 21 in Hakimpur, 166 in Birganj, 41 in Birampur, 61 in Nawabganj, 97 in Kaharole and 40 in Ghoraghat upazila.
Police Superintendent Md Zedan Al Musa confirmed the information to BSS on Saturday night, saying the figures were compiled from the Special Branch of the police and leaders of the district Puja Udjapan Parishad.
District Puja Udjapan Parishad President Swarup Bakshi Bachchu said 1,317 mandaps have been selected for this year’s Durga Puja celebrations, 40 more than last year.
He said preparations have been taken to ensure that the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community is celebrated in a peaceful and festive
atmosphere. Puja committees have been formed at all mandaps across the district’s 13 upazilas and nine municipalities.
Idol-maker Sudhir Chandra Sarker at Kalitala Durga Puja mandap in Dinajpur town said he had almost completed making idols for nine mandaps in the town.
He said work is now focused on giving the idols their final decorative touches. Zedan Al Musa said the 1,317 mandaps have been divided into three categories for security purposes. Of these, 350 have been classified as highly important, 355 as important and 612 as general.
Police, Ansar members and volunteers from the respective Puja committees will be deployed at the mandaps, with additional security arrangements at the highly important venues.During the festival, patrol teams led by executive magistrates, will operate across all 13 upazilas.
Additional District Magistrate Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui said a monitoring cell would remain open round the clock at the Deputy Commissioner’s office throughout the Puja celebrations.
The monitoring cell will maintain telephone contact with all Puja mandaps in the district. In the event of any untoward incident, a rapid response team will be sent to the spot immediately after receiving information, he added.
-BSS
