Satchidananda Dey Saday, Ashasuni (Satkhira)

A total of 612 Puja mandaps across seven upazilas in Satkhira have been prepared to celebrate the grand autumn festival, Sharadiya Durga Puja. The festivities will officially commence this Friday with Maha Shasthi.

Final preparations are currently underway across various venues in the district.Adding an extra layer of attraction to this year's celebrations is the innovative craftsmanship used in creating the idols and decorating the mandaps. Artisans have creatively utilized matchsticks, silk thread, pulses, jute, golden fiber, and pearls.According to district-level records, Puja will be celebrated at:Satkhira Sadar Upazila: 111 mandaps,Tala Upazila: 202 mandaps (highest in the district)Kalaroa Upazila: 46 mandaps,ashashunisuni Upazila: 106 mandaps,Debhata Upazila: 21 mandaps,Kaliganj Upazila: 55 mandaps,Shyamnagar Upazila: 71 mandaps.Durga Puja is the largest religious festival of the Bengali Hindu community. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga leaves Kailash and descends to her earthly father's home alongside her four children—Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, and Ganesha.

Beyond her image as the vanquisher of evil (Asurabinashini), she is beloved as Uma, the daughter of the home. Consequently, the festival blends deep religious emotion with rich family and social traditions.The festival is also deeply rooted in the legend of Akalbodhan. Mythological tradition holds that Lord Rama worshipped Goddess Durga before going into battle against Ravana.

Since it was Dakshinayana (the period when deities are believed to be in slumber), Rama awakened the Goddess out of season (Akal) for worship. This awakening has since been known as Akalbodhan.The celebrations begin on Maha Shasthi with rituals including Kalparambha, Bodhan, Amantran, and Adhivash. Devotees will participate in Nabapatrika Snan and Puja on Maha Saptami, offer Anjali and special prayers on Maha Ashtami, and worship on Maha Navami. The formal celebration will conclude on Vijaya Dashami with the immersion of the idols.

Diverse artistic themes and materials are on display throughout Satkhira:Ashasuni Upazila: Idols featuring exquisite clay artwork have been crafted at the Budhhata Subarna Banikpara Puja Mandap.Budhhata & Bardal: The Budhhata Kacharibari and South Bardal mandaps have crafted their idols using various types of pulses. Idols decorated with jute and golden fiber can also be seen across different areas of the district.Brahmarajpur: The Shree Shree Durga Puja Mandap in Brahmarajpur (Satkhira Sadar) features an extraordinary idol crafted using over 150,000 matchsticks and more than 10 kilograms of silk thread.Budhiya: At the Budhiya Sarbajanin Durga Puja Mandap in Bardal Union (Ashasuni), the clay idols are adorned with 35,000 pearls, complemented by laser lighting and colorful visual displays.

Vijaya Dashami, idols from approximately 10 neighboring mandaps will be immersed together during the traditional Budhiya Arang Fair. Idols participating in this historic gathering will come from Bardal Bazar, Madhyam Bardal, South Bardal, Bishnupur, Fakirabad East Para, Kaikhali, Budhiya, and surrounding areas. The event continues to generate immense local enthusiasm.Meanwhile, the Satkhira District Police has launched special operations to ensure that Durga Puja is celebrated peacefully.

Necessary security measures to maintain law and order throughout the festival period have been taken.