TUNGIPARA, Gopalganj, Oct 20, 2023 (BSS) - The five-day Durga Puja, the greatest religious festival of the Hindu Community, began through Moha Shashti in all five upazilas in the district today with due religious fervor, solemnity and festivity.

Dr. Asit Kumar Mallik, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Gopalganj district unit, said a total of 1,301 puja mandaps have been erected in the district this year. The devotees installed colorful images of the goddess Durga in the puja mandaps with attractive decorations.

Of the total, some 351 puja mandaps were erected in Sadar upazila, 325 in Kotalipara upazila, 299 in Muksudpur upazila, 232 in Kashiani upazila and 94 in Tungipara upazila of the district, Dr. Asit Kumar Mallik said.

A large number of devotees including women and children are visiting the puja mandaps and joining in the rituals of the puja. Prasads are also being distributed to the visitors.

District administration and police administration have taken special security measures around of all the puja mandaps to hold the festival in a peaceful and festive atmosphere.

On the other hand, the government has also distributed a total of 650.5 tonnes of rice to the committee of the puja mandaps of the district to assist the Hindu community to celebrate the festival smoothly, he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given a donation of Taka 3,25,000 for the Kotalipara Puja Mandaps from her person fund, President of Kotalipara Upazila Awami League Bhabendra Nath Biswas said.

Tungipara Upazila Awami League General Secretary Md. Babul Sheikh said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given a donation of Taka 94,000 for the Tungipara Puja Mandaps from her person fund.