Maha Nabami today

Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of Bengali Hindu community, began on Saturday (October 1) amid festivity and religious fervour. It will come to an end on October 5 with the immersion of the idols of goddess Durga in rivers and other water bodies.

Maha Nabami Puja began on Tuesday morning, the fourth day of the festival.

The Maha Ashtami was celebrated on Monday and all devotees offered anjali (worship) at temples throughout the country. Kumari Puja was also celebrated.

On Sunday, Maha Saptami, the second day of the five-day Durga Puja, was celebrated with much enthusiasm and religious fervor.

Swami Premananda Maharaj of Ramkrishna Mission and Ramkrishna Math, Dhaka said  Goddess Durga will come to earth (martyalok) from heaven (Kailash) riding on elephant which signifies, as per mythology, that the earth will witness natural disasters like storms but production of grains and crops will increase.

Goddess Durga will return to heaven (Kailash) riding on boat which signifies the world will get blessings. 

Durga Puja is being celebrated at 32,168 mandaps across the country this year including 241 in the capital, according to Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad.