GOPALGANJ, Sept 20, 2024 (BSS) - Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu community, will be celebrated at 1,294 mandaps in all five upazilas of the district this year.

The puja will begin on October 9 with due respect and religious fervor across the country and end on October 12 with immersion of the idols of goddess Durga and other deities.

Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Kamruzzaman told the journalists that this year a total of 1,294 mandaps will be erected in the district - 351 in Sadar upazila, 322 in Kotalipara upazila, 293 in Muksudpur upazila, 236 in Kashiani upazila and 92 in Tungipara upazila of the district.

The DC said all kinds of administrative steps will be taken to organize the autumn Durga Puja in a festive atmosphere. The district administration and the law enforcement forces will carry out joint duties during the festival.

The DC also said stringent security measures have been taken for smooth holding of the puja in the district and law enforcement agencies will be in place to ensure smooth celebration.

Mrinal Kanti Roy Chowdhury Papa, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Gopalganj district unit, said CCTV cameras will be installed at every puja mandap for security. Monitoring teams will work along with police, ansar and VDP members in all puja mandaps of the district.

Dilip Kumar Saha Dipu, organizer of Bazar Jubo Sangha puja celebration committee in Gopalganj town said, "We are preparing to celebrate the puja in a festive atmosphere. Already, the work of making idols in each puja mandap has been completed."