Rohingyas celebrate Durga Puja in Cox’s Bazar camp
Puja is being celebrated at 296 mandaps in Cox’s Bazar
Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, is being celebrated in Cox's Bazar with one mandap for Rohingyas living in Kutupalong Refugee Camp, keeping in touch with the tradition that began last year.
The Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh from Myanamar in the face of persecution are delighted to see this arrangement.
Simanto Rudro and Shishu Shil, both belonging to the Rohingya Hindu community said that they did not think of celebrating Durga Puja in such a festive mode.
"We could never repay the debt we owe to the Bangladesh government," said Simanto.
Meanwhile, another Rohingya resident of the camp Modhuram Pal said: "A total of 470 members from 113 Hindu families have been provided with new clothes on the occasion of Durga Puja.
"We heard about the non-communal atmosphere in Bangladesh. Now can see it with our own eyes after coming to the country."
The mandap was made to ensure that the Rohingyas can celebrate puja in a festive mode. In addition, Kamal Hossain, deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar, has allocated five tonnes of rice to Rohingya Hindus," said Priyotosh Sharma Chandan, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad in Cox's Bazar.
This year, the Durga Puja is being celebrated at 296 mandaps (makeshift facilities for worship), according to government sources.
The Durga Puja, known in Bangla as "Sharodiya Durgotsab" began with the "Bodhon" (incarnation) of Goddess Durga on the day of Maha Sashthi on Friday. It will be followed by Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami respectively.
On October 8, the idols of the Goddess Durga will be immersed in the Bay of Bengal on the day of Vijaya Dashami.
The government has allocated 155 metric tonnes of rice to 296 mandaps for the occasion, confirmed Ranjit Das, the president of the Cox's Bazar District Puja Udjapan Parishad (Puja Celebration Council), and Babul Sharma, the general secretary of the organisation.
Idol artist Nepal Bhattacharya said he has made almost two dozens of idols for various mandaps in the district.
The Cox's Bazar District Puja Udjapan Parishad has sought cooperation from the administration and people of all faiths to celebrate the Durga Puja smoothly.
Kamal Hossain, the deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar, said that the district and police administration will help the Hindu community with all efforts to celebrate the Durga Puja in a clean and festive environment like those in previous years.
ABM Masud Hossain, the superintendent of police in Cox's Bazar, said police have taken strict security measures for the celebration of the Durga Puja.