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DHAKA, Sept 22, 2025 (BSS)- Durga Puja preparation is going on in full swing across the country with only five days left for the biggest religious festival of the Bengali Hindus .
The annual five-day Sharadiya Durgotsab will begin with the unveiling of the face of the deity on the day of Maha Shasthi on September 28.
The festival will end with the immersion of the idols of the Goddess Durga on Bijoya Dashami on October 2.
Idol makers and artisans are now passing their busiest time in giving the final touches on idols for Durga Puja at puja mandaps across the country.
Generally, the idols are made diligently and methodically by the artisans to create exquisite pieces of artistry.
In the skilled hands of the clay artisans, idols are taking beautiful shape. After making the idols with straw and clay, the work of coating and colouring is now going on.
Alongside this, temples are also being decorated and prepared day and night to welcome the festivities.
Visiting several puja mandaps in Old Dhaka, it was seen that artisans are carefully crafting idols of Goddess Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, Asura, and others using clay, bamboo, straw, and ropes.
On Sunday (September 21), the celebration of Mahalaya marked the countdown to the festival.
With the end of Pitru Paksha and the beginning of Devi Paksha, Goddess Durga was invoked through the chanting from Shree Shree Chandi.
In the capital, Durga Puja is celebrated in the largest number of mandaps in old Dhaka.
This year, mandaps are being set up in Dhakeshwari National Temple, Azimpur Government Colony, Rishi Para Durga Temple, Shankhari Bazar, Tatibazar, Lakshmibazar, Sutrapur, Shyambazar, Paridas Road, Koltabazar, Murgitola, Madan Mohan Das Lane, Banglabazar Goarnagar, Jamidar Bari, and the alleys of Gendaria.
Works of making stages, pandals, gates, and idols are going on in full swing.
Preparations are also going on at Swamibagh Loknath Temple, Ramna Kali Mandir and Maa Anandamayi Ashram, Siddheshwari Kali Mandir, Mirpur Kendrio Mandir, Siddheshwari Puja Mandap, Gulshan-Banani Sarbajanin Puja Foundation’s Mandap in Banani and Puja mandap of the Sanatan Samaj Kalyan Sangha at the Khamarbari Krishibid Institution premises.
Artisans said they eagerly wait the time each year when they can make idols of Goddess Durga.
For them, this is not only a source of livelihood but also deeply connected to their devotion and love for the Goddess.
“Durga idol is made as if she is our own mother,” said an artisan.
This year Goddess Durga is arriving on an elephant and will depart on a palanquin.
The arrival on an elephant is considered highly auspicious, symbolizing prosperity and abundance of crops in the earth. However, departure on a palanquin indicates an ominous sign, suggesting epidemics or natural adversities, which may cast a shadow despite the auspicious arrival.
Speaking to BSS, Basudeb Dhar, President of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, said extensive preparations are underway and the number of mandaps has increased this year.
Across the country, 33,355 mandaps will arrange Durga Puja, including 258 in Dhaka city alone.
Last year, 31,461 mandaps arranged the festival nationwide, with 252 in Dhaka city, according to the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and the Dhaka Mahanagar Puja Committee.
Meanwhile, the interim government has allocated TK five crore for Durga Puja this year, of which TK four crore has been distributed across the country and TK one crore for the hill districts, Secretary of Hindu Religious Welfare Trust Devendra Nath Uran told BSS.
On Monday, visiting the premises of Dhakeshwari National Temple, this correspondent found idol-making is going on in full swing, with the structures covered by curtains during the process.
Barun Chakraborty, the priest of Dhakeshwari Puja Mandap, told BSS that the countdown of Durga Puja began with the celebration of Mahalaya yesterday, praying for the well-being of the nation as well as world peace.
