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With the Hindu community’s biggest religious festival, Durga Puja, approaching, Shankharibazar in Old Dhaka has begun to wear a festive look as shoppers flock to the traditional market for puja essentials and accessories.
The narrow lanes of Shankharibazar are now lined with shops displaying a wide range of items associated with the five-day festival, including conch-shell bangles, vermilion, jewellery and other decorative materials used during the celebrations.
Shoppers are moving from one shop to another, checking designs and prices before buying items for themselves and their families.
The market, traditionally known for its conch-shell products, has become one of the busiest shopping spots in the capital ahead of Durga Puja. The festival attracts large numbers of devotees and visitors to temples and puja mandaps across Dhaka.
Shopkeepers have decorated their outlets with colourful ornaments and arranged puja-related products to attract customers. Alongside traditional items, modern designs of jewellery and decorative accessories are also available.
For many shoppers, buying conch-shell bangles and vermilion is an important part of preparations for the festival. Others are purchasing jewellery and decorative items to wear during the celebrations or to offer at puja venues.
Durga Puja is celebrated over several days, with Maha Shasthi marking the formal beginning of the main festivities, followed by Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami.
In Bangladesh, the festival is celebrated at thousands of puja mandaps across the country. Major celebrations in Dhaka include those in the Old Dhaka areas, where long-standing Hindu communities maintain traditional practices.
The shopping rush is expected to increase further as the festival draws closer, bringing additional activity to Shankharibazar and surrounding areas.
For traders, the festival is an important seasonal business period, while for shoppers it is a time to prepare for one of the year’s most important religious and cultural celebrations.