LAKSHMIPUR, Oct 7, 2024 (BSS) - Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the country's Hindu community, will be celebrated at 78 mandaps in all five upazilas, including four pourashavas, in the district this year.

The festival 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.

According to the district administration office sources, puja will be held at 33 mandaps in Sadar upazila, 19 in Ramganj upazila, 12 in Raipur upazila, 11 in Ramgati upazila and 3 in Kamalnagar upazila of the district.

The idol makers and artisans are now passing busy time in giving the final touch to idols at puja mandaps.

Work of clay in making idols have been completed and now the works of painting and ornamentation are underway.

On the basis of various themes, works of decorations and illuminations are also going on at puja mandaps.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rajiv Kumar Sarkar said all kinds of administrative steps have been taken to celebrate Durga Puja in a festive atmosphere.

The district administration, police administration and army have been visited the puja mandaps in the district, the DC said.

Superintendent of Police Aktar Hossain said four levels of 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.

Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council district unit president Shankar Majumdar said monitoring teams will work along with police, ansar and VDP members in all puja mandaps of the district.

He said "We are getting full support from the district administration, police administration, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. I am also satisfied with the activities of the law enforcement agencies".