Hindus across Bangladesh are gearing up for their biggest festival, Durga Puja, with vibrant preparations underway despite rising security worries. The five-day celebration kicks off on Sunday, September 28, and runs through Thursday, October 2, bringing communities together to honor Goddess Durga.
This year, organizers have set up 33,355 Durga Puja events nationwide—about 1,000 more than last year, according to Hindu leaders. Stunning idols of the goddess now fill worship halls, ready for rituals and festivities that light up the country.
But joy mixes with caution. Recent attacks on Durga idols and temples have hit districts like Kustia, Chittagong, Kurigram, Sathkhira, Jhenidaha, Netrakona, Gaibandha, Panchagarh, Jamalpur, Natore, Gazipur, Manikgonj, and Chapainawabgonj. Jayanta Kumar Deb, president of Dhaka’s Metropolitan Public Puja Committee, highlighted these incidents at a Friday press conference. “Law enforcement has acted fast, detaining many attackers,” he said. “We won’t tolerate violence during the puja.”
Deb urged more than just police action. “We need the whole country to wake up—through awareness and social pushback—to stop this violence,” he added. He stressed building a discrimination-free Bangladesh with year-round security, not just for the festival’s five days. “Let’s foster a non-communal mindset and call out wrongdoers every day,” Deb said.
To help, the Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council released 22 guidelines for organizers. These focus on partnering with local authorities to safeguard events and ensure smooth Durga Puja celebrations. The council also calls for dropping false harassment cases against minority leaders and innocent folks before the festival starts.
Last year’s chaos followed the August 5 student uprising against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, leading to vandalism at some temples and idols. Bashudeb Dhar, president of the National Puja Celebration Council, shared his thoughts while visiting Dhaka’s historic Dhakeshwari Temple. “The government cracked down on those responsible back then,” he told . “This year, 11 districts saw similar attacks, but we’ve met with the home adviser, other officials, and top security teams. They’ve promised strong protection for everyone.”
Dhakeshwari Temple, known as the “Goddess of Dhaka,” holds special status as Bangladesh’s national Hindu site in the Muslim-majority nation. Some experts even link the city’s name to the temple. Dhar emphasized its inclusive spirit: “Puja belongs to us Hindus, but the celebrations unite all Bangladeshis—it’s our shared heritage.”
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