KHULNA, Sept 29: All preparations have been completed to celebrate Durga Puja peacefully in the industrial city, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community, scheduled to begin on October 9.
Artisans, locally known as Pals, are working round the clock to give the last touch to the idols of the goddess Durga.
General Secretary of city unit Puja Udjapon Parisad Prashanta Kumar Kundu said, a total of 925 puja mandaps have been set up in the metropolis and all nine upazilas of the district.
A total of 124 puja mandaps have been set up in the metropolitan city and 801 ones in all nine upazilas of the district, he said adding that around 450 idol-makers are engaged in making idols in the region.
Hindu community members and people from all walks of life were already seen crowding around the temples and puja mandaps to see their last preparation.
Shibu Paul, an idol maker of Dharmasava Puja Mandap in the city, said, this year,, Pals will earn more money than last year's.
"We received around Tk 7,500 to Tk 8,500 last year for each idol. But we are taking around Tk 9,000 to Tk 9,500 this year," he said, adding that "We have received Tk 50,000 to Tk 60,000 for completion of each Puja Mondap."
The cost of raw materials including earth, rope, straw; bamboo and jute needed for idol making has increased.
Shibu also said, he has been running this business after the death of his father. He has completed 95 per cent of his work and expects to finish it in time.
Manosh Kumar Ghosh, president of Arjya Dharmasava Puja Udjapon Committee, who supervises Dharmasava Puja Mandap, said, preparation cost for the Durga Puja have been raised due to high price of the raw materials and increased charge of idol-makers, Purohits and Dhakis.
Proshanta Kundu said, at least 95 per cent idol-making works have already been completed in both the city and the district.
Administrator of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) and also Khulna Divisional Commissioner Helal Mahmud Sharif handed over Tk 6, 35,000 to the managing committee of 71 puja mandaps in the city, he added.
Krishna Saha, president of the District Unit Puja Committee, said, the Khulna district administration has distributed 500 kg of rice in each puja mandap in all nine upazilas and two municipalities in the district."
"We become happy about the preparation of the law-enforcement agencies for their security measures," he added.
He also requested law-enforcement agencies to withdraw false cases filed against many leaders and activists of Puja Udjapan Committee to ensure smooth celebration of Durga Puja.
Besides, police have taken adequate security measures for before and after the Puja celebration in the city and the district.
KMP Commissioner Md Zulfikar Ali Haider said, members of law-enforcement agencies are already started to visit each puja mandap every day.
"We are requesting each puja mandap managing committee to deploy volunteers and CC TV at their respective puja mandap," he added.
