Durga Puja begins today

Sharadiya Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community, begins across Bangladesh today (Friday) with rituals marking Maha Shashthi.

The six-day festival will begin with traditional worship ceremonies, including Kalparambho, Adhibash and Amantran at temples and puja mandaps across the country.

The rituals follow Bodhan, the ceremonial awakening of Goddess Durga, performed on Thursday evening to mark the beginning of the festivities.

This year, the main celebrations will continue until October 21, when devotees will bid farewell to the goddess through idol immersion on Bijoya Dashami.

According to the Bangla calendar, Maha Saptami falls on both Saturday and Sunday this year, extending the festival schedule.