Hindus in different districts in the country are buzzing with excitement as sculptors give last minute touches to statues of Durga in preparation for the five-day Sharodiya Utsab.

Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the Hindu community, will begin on October 7.

In Jhenidah, sculptors are busy putting the final touches to the idols in six upazilas of the district. The biggest festival for Hindus will be held in around 350 temples in the district.

The sculptors are earning Tk 30 thousand to Tk 2 lakh per temple.

Gopal Paul said he has been running this business after the death of his father. He earns a lot ahead of Durga Puja. He has completed 60 per cent of his work and expects to finish it in time.

Secretary of Kaliganj unit of Hindu, Bouddha, Christian Oikya Parishad Puja Udjapan Committee said the priests are very worried due to the killings of some priests a few months back. If tight security is provided, the priests will go to the temples, he added.

Assistant Superintendent of Police in Jhenidah Ajbahar Ali Sheikh said security measures have been taken in each temple. A team of policemen along with ansars will be deployed at the temples during the puja.

Five upazilas in Lalmonirhat are humming with preparatory activities for celebrating the upcoming five-day Durga Puja, reports our correspondent.

The artisans are having a busy time now making clay images of Goddess Durga.

Artisan Narayan Chandra Roy, 46, of Saptana village under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, said his four-member team was making statues for 19 temples in the district.

“A team of five to seven people needs seven to eight days to make a big statue, and five to six days for smaller images,” said artisan Narayan Chandra Roy.

“Our charge varies from Tk 20,000 to Tk 35,000, excluding the supply of materials and other expenses,” he added.

A total of 398 puja mandaps are being set up in the district this year, said district Puja Udjapan Parishad President Pradip Kumar Roy.

The best decorated mandaps and the best artisans will be awarded as in previous years, he added.

“Members of the Puja Udjapan Parishad will monitor all the mandaps to ensure that the festival is celebrated peacefully,” said Gopal Chandra Roy, general secretary of Lalmonirhat District Puja Udjapan Parishad.

Special security measures, uninterrupted electricity supply and traffic management would be ensured, said Superintendent of Police in Lakmonirhat SM Rashidul Haque.

Our correspondent in Barisal reports that sculptors are busy making statues of Durga in the district as Durga Puja draws nearer.

At least 500 statues of Durga will be made in the district this year, of which 35 will be in the city, Barisal City Puja Committee sources said.

“There were around 500 sculptors in Barisal, but the new generation have left their inherited profession due to lack of support. Now they are facing hardship,” said Rakhal Chandra Dey, president of the Barisal District Puja Udjapan Parishad.

Source: The Daily Star