Thakurgaon Correspondent:
 
The rhythmic beats of drums and the echoes of conch shells filled the air as the five-day Durga Puja began in Thakurgaon district on 16 October, alongside celebrations across the country.
 
According to Hindu scriptures, Goddess Durga descended to Earth on horseback this year to visit her parental home. She is destined to return to heaven abode by boat.
 
The puja venues have been adorned with colourful lights, vibrant flowers, eye-catching banners and elaborately decorated gates, creating dazzling festive attractions.
 
The celebration has brought a festive atmosphere to the district, with devotees gathering at temples and pandals to offer prayer to the deities and take part in the festivities.
 
The temple premises are abuzz with devotional music and religious rituals. Devotees are offered prasad, while evening arati adds to the spiritual atmosphere. The festivities also feature conch-shell bellowing and traditional vermilion-playing competitions.
 
Durga Puja is being celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious fervor at 476 temples and puja pandals across Thakurgaon district this year, said Manoranjan Singh, trustee of the Hindu Dharmiyo Kalyan Trust. Of the 476 venues, 17 are located in Thakurgaon town. Major venues include Hallpara Durga Bari, Ramakrishna Mission, Kalibari, Bazarpara, Ghoshpara, Shantinagar, Baganbari, Collegepara & Goalpara in the town. Singh said two additional puja pandals have been set up this year.
 
He further said the government has allocated 600 kg of rice for each puja mandap in the district. The Hindu Dharmiyo Kalyan Trust has also provided Tk 10 lakh to support Durga Puja celebrations across the district.
 
Partho Protim Guhothakurata, president of the Durga Puja Celebration Committee of Thakurgaon Ramakrishna Mission, said we received increased government financial assistance for this year’s festival. He also praised the district’s civil and police administrations for taking extensive security measures to ensure peaceful celebrations.
 
Pompa Rani, a devotee, visited Ghoshpara Durga Mondap to offer prayers and seek the divine blessing of Goddess Durga. “The festival brings people together and gives us an opportunity to share joy of the celebrations.” she said.
 
Meanwhile, devotee Proshanto Kumar expressed profound joy and spiritual fulfillment. He said worshipping Goddess Durga brought inner peace and renewed his vow to uphold righteousness and resist demonic propensity. For him, Durga Puja symbolizes the eternal triumph of good over evil.
 
Law enforcement personnel have been deployed at and around the puja venues to ensure peaceful and orderly celebrations.
 
The festivities will conclude on Wednesday, October 21, with the ceremonial immersion of idols, marking the observance of Bijoya Dashami.