RAJSHAHI, Oct 2, 2024 (BSS) - Preparation for celebrating the forthcoming Durga Puja, the largest religious festival for the Hindu community, is going on everywhere in Rajshahi division.
 
Idol makers commonly known as Pauls are passing their busy days in the final touch works of idols of Hindu deities. With only ten days left, they are working round the clock to make sure that the idols are ready on time.
 
Kartik Paul, who has been involved in the idol-making profession for over 26 years, has made 38 idols in the last two months. "Taka 35,000 to 65,000 are spent on each of the idols," he said.
 
He said that about 100 Paul groups of Rajshahi are now busy making idols for mandaps and they have already completed 75 percent of the work of making the idols.
 
Swapon Ghosh, a devotee who supervises a puja mandap in the Kumarpara area of the city, informed that preparations for the upcoming Durga Puja are in the final stage.
 
Shyamal Kumar Ghosh, Rajshahi city unit general secretary of Puja Udjapan Parishad, told BSS that the Durga Puja will be celebrated in a festive mood here.
 
Decorations of temples, lighting, and setting up of mandaps are expected to turn the city into a festive look within the next couple of days, he added.
 
Deputy Inspector General of Police Alamgir Rahman told BSS that Durgotsob will be celebrated in 3,314 puja mandaps in all eight districts under the Rajshahi division in addition to 96 in Rajshahi metropolis this year.
 
The police administration has taken elaborate security measures for smooth celebration of the puja, he added.
 
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) has intensified intelligence surveillance ahead of the Durga Puja in the metropolis.

"We are determined to celebrate the religious festival amid enthusiasm and communal harmony," said Abu Sufiyan, Commissioner of RMP, adding they have adopted tight security measures to make the durga puja celebration festive and successful.
 
Ahead of the religious festival, the RMP held coordination meetings at its conference hall recently.
 
Meanwhile, Rajshahi City Corporation has planned to keep the city neat and clean during the upcoming celebration of Sharodiya Durga Puja.
 
 To this end, the city corporation has adopted multifarious measures so that the celebration could be more festive and enthusiastic among the devotees.