DINAJPUR, Oct 2: Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the Hindu community, is knocking at the door. This year, a total of 1,218 mandaps have been made to celebrate the puja in the district. Meanwhile, the artisans are passing their busy times in giving final touches to the idols.
From last Friday, the formal Puja started through 'Shuvo Mahalaya', while the main rituals will start through 'Durga Bodhan' on October 7 next and end with the immersion of the Deity Durga on October 11.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of their biggest festival, the Hindu community people are now busy in buying different items including clothes and cosmetics and making different food items according to their own fashion.
This year the Durga Puja will be held at the most 1,218 mandaps here in the country. On the other hand, according to an intelligence agency report, 266 mandaps have been detected most vulnerable and 306 vulnerable in the district. In this connection, massive security measures have been taken so that no untoward incidents may happen during the festival.
General Secretary of Puja Udjapan Parishad, district unit, Bidhan Chakraborty Basu said, of the total 1,218 Puja Mandaps, 113 have been made in Dinajpur Sadar, 94 in Biral, 86 in Bochaganj, 100 in Kaharol, 151 in Birganj, 120 in Khansama, 150 in Chirirbandar, 146 in Parbatipur, 55 in Fulbari, 35 in Birampur, 80 in Nababganj, 17 in Hakimpur and 37 in Ghoraghat upazilas, while 34 in have been made in Dinajpur Municipality. Besides, 50 more privately-owned are ready to hold the puja, he informed.
Police Super of Dinajpur Md Hamidul Alam said, "We have taken all security measures to ensure Durga Puja in a peaceful environment. In this connection, all the law enforcing agencies have been specially ordered to remain alert so that no untoward incidents may happen."
He further said, "Of the total 1,218 mandaps, 266 have been detected by the intelligence agencies as most vulnerable and 306 vulnerable, while the rest 646 are safe. In the 13 upazilas, 7,950 police and Ansar members will be deployed to monitor the activities at the mandaps. Of them, 7,200 are male and female Ansar members and 750 armed police members. Meanwhile, at the most vulnerable and vulnerable mandaps, police and Ansar members will be deployed and at the safe mandaps, only the Ansar members will be deployed."
President of district Durga Puja Organising Committee Porimal Chakraborty Tapan and General Secretary Subrata Majumder Dollar said, "Besides law enforcing agencies, a total of three volunteers will be deployed at each mandap during the puja. We have asked to file their names and mobile phone numbers to the respective police station."
