Maha Saptami celebrated peacefully in Khulna. Photo: BSS

KHULNA, Sept 29, 2025 (BSS) - Maha Saptami, the second day of the five-day Sharadiya Durga Puja, was celebrated on Monday with due religious fervour and enthusiasm at all puja mandaps in the city and district.

Temples and makeshift mandaps drew huge crowds of devotees and visitors as beautifully crafted idols of Goddess Durga were formally installed on Maha Shasthi on Sunday.

Though the Puja began with Maha Shasthi, devotees started visiting puja mandaps from Monday morning to observe Maha Saptami.

Dressed in traditional red and white sarees and panjabis, a large number of devotees thronged various puja mandaps across the city throughout the day.

The mandaps have been brightly illuminated and beautifully decorated. Several pandals were designed with thematic elements representing various aspects of life and spirituality.

General Secretary of Khulna City Unit Puja Udjapan Parishad Proshanta Kumar Kundu said the Nabapatrika Snan (sacred bathing of the deity) was held in the morning, followed by Maha Saptami Puja, offering of Anjali and distribution of prashad. Similar rituals were observed at all temples and puja mandaps in the city.

Manosh Kumar Ghosh, Joint Secretary of Dharmoshava Mandir Committee, said priests along with devotees performed Nabapatrika Snan in the morning, followed by puja offerings to Goddess Durga. A large number of devotees participated in offering Anjali and receiving prashad.

Recitation of verses from the Holy Sri Sri Chandi, blowing of conch shells, and beating of traditional musical instruments such as dhak, dhol, and kashor began on Sunday and will continue until the immersion of the idols on Bijoya Dashami, to be observed on October 2.

Various rituals, including offering of Anjali, will be held in the mornings while the Sandhi Puja will take place in the late afternoon or evening, marking the transition from Ashtami to Nabami.

This year, Durga Puja is being celebrated at 120 mandaps in Khulna city and 861 mandaps in the district, according to the City and District Units of the Puja Udjapan Parishad.

Stringent security measures have been taken in both the city and district to ensure a peaceful and safe celebration of Durga Puja.