Dhaka, Oct 17 (V7N)- Maha Saptami, one of the most significant days of the Sharad Durga Puja festival, is being observed across Bangladesh on Saturday with religious rituals, prayers and gatherings of devotees at temples and puja mandaps.
According to Hindu religious beliefs, Maha Saptami is an important occasion to worship Goddess Durga and seek her blessings for peace, prosperity, family well-being and the destruction of evil forces.
The day's main rituals began in the morning with the ceremonial bathing of the Navapatrika, popularly known as Kalabou, followed by its installation at puja mandaps in accordance with traditional Hindu scriptures.
The Navapatrika is prepared by gathering nine plants: banana, colocasia, turmeric, jayanti, wood apple, pomegranate, ashoka, mankachu and paddy. The ritual reflects the traditional connection between the worship of Goddess Durga and nature.
According to religious customs, the ceremonial bathing also involves the reflection of the goddess's idol in a mirror and the use of sacred water and other ritual materials. The rites are followed by Pran Pratishtha, the ritual invocation of the divine presence through prescribed mantras and ceremonies.
During Maha Saptami, devotees worship Goddess Durga according to traditional scriptural practices, including the Shodashopachara rituals. They offer flowers, food and prayers and participate in aarti to seek the goddess's blessings.
After the morning rituals, devotees are expected to gather at temples and puja mandaps to offer flowers and betel leaves. Men, women, children and young people are joining the celebrations, while many visitors are moving between temples throughout the day.
The festival atmosphere is being marked by worship, prasad distribution and other religious activities. Evening Sandhya Aarti will feature incense, lamps, bells, conch shells and traditional drums.
According to the puja schedule cited in the calendar, the designated time for Saptami Puja is from 7:31 am to 9:57 am. However, as the Saptami tithi continues into Sunday, October 18, some rituals associated with the observance are also expected to continue at temples tomorrow.
END/SMA/AJ
