Durga Puja begins on Friday, preparations completed at 33,851 mandap temples across the country

Mir Afroz Zaman, POBNEWS24 Dhaka, Oct 15, 2026 : The main religious festival of the Hindu community, the autumn Durga Puja, is starting from Friday with the sound of drums, blowing conch shells and the atmosphere of festivities. The five-day festival, which began with Mahasashthi, will continue till Vijaya Dashami on October 21. Last-minute preparations are underway at temples and puja mandap temples across the country, including the capital, to welcome Goddess Durga. The festive atmosphere has spread to every town and village with the construction of idols, decoration of pandals, lighting and religious-cultural arrangements.
This time Durga Puja will be held at 33,851 puja mandap temples across the country. The number of mandap temples has increased by about 1,500 compared to last year. The government has strengthened security and surveillance to ensure smooth conduct of pujas at a large number of mandap. At the same time, the government holiday has been extended to three days on the occasion of Durga Puja. Government employees, including weekly holidays, have been given five consecutive days off from October 20 to 24.
To ensure a peaceful and smooth conduct of the festival, law enforcement agencies have made extensive preparations at the field level. The Ministry of Home Affairs has informed about the deployment of 2 lakh 12 thousand 834 members of Ansar-VDP. In addition, other forces such as the Coast Guard and BGB, the Army will conduct security activities in their respective areas of responsibility. Emphasis has been placed on additional surveillance, patrolling, entry and exit management and quick response in emergency situations at important and more important mandap.
In addition to surveillance in the mandap and surrounding areas, security will also be strengthened during the immersion of idols. The government has also announced preparations for surveillance using drones and helicopters to control the crowd centered around the immersion. Initiatives have been taken to strengthen cyber surveillance to prevent rumors, incitement and propaganda on social media. The aim of the concerned authorities is to ensure the safety of devotees and visitors and maintain the joy of the festival.
This year, the government holiday has been extended by three days on the occasion of Durga Puja. According to the notification of the Ministry of Public Administration, there will be government holidays on October 20, 21 and 22. With the addition of weekly holidays on Friday and Saturday on October 23 and 24, government employees will get five consecutive days of leave. However, it has been decided to keep government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices open on Saturday, October 17.
In the context of the long-standing demand of the Hindu community, leaders involved in the celebration of the puja are seeing the decision to extend the holiday as positive. According to them, the additional holiday will increase the opportunity to celebrate the festival with family, travel to village homes and participate in religious rituals.
Preparations are underway for special events at various temples and puja mandap, including the Dhakeshwari National Temple in the capital. Along with the puja, there will be arrangements like devotional music concerts, distribution of prasad, aarti competitions and Vijaya Shobhajatra. There is increased activity around the festival in various areas of Old Dhaka including Tanti Bazar and Shankhari Bazar. Apart from this, there will be special arrangements by the Ramakrishna Mission.
Devotees and visitors will gather in the mandapams during the puja days. The autumn festival will be celebrated by visiting the idols, offering prayers, receiving prasad and participating in cultural programs. The organizers and visitors have also urged the organizers and visitors to maintain discipline and follow safety instructions so that the joy of the puja is safe and comfortable for everyone.
Although Durga Puja is the main religious festival of the Hindu community, it has an important place in the social and cultural life of Bangladesh. Along with religious rituals and ceremonies, this festival becomes an occasion for unity, harmony and mutual cooperation. A festive atmosphere is created in the puja mandapams with the participation of people of different religions.
In all, this year’s autumn Durga festival is going to begin with pujas being organized in 33,851 mandap, additional government holidays and extensive security preparations. This festival of expectations, prayers and joy of devotees will be completed in a peaceful atmosphere. The bond of communal harmony, humanity and mutual trust will be further strengthened in the light of Durga festival.