Hindu community celebrates Janmashtami

The holy Janmashtami, birth festival of Sri Sri Krishna, is being observed with due religious fervour and enthusiasm today.

It has been mentioned in the Hindu Puran that Sri Sri Krishna was born on the eighth tithi of Shukla Pakkha (fortnight of the new moon) in the Bangla month of Bhadra. He takes birth in ages in the world to safeguard the good and pious people from the hands of bad persons to establish truth, justice and beauty in society.

The day is a public holiday. Different social, cultural and religious organisations have drawn elaborate programmes to observe the day.

In separate messages, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have greeted members of the Hindu community on the occasion.

National dailies will publish special articles while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television and other private TV and radio stations will air special programmes highlighting different aspects of the eventful life of Sri Sri Krishna.

The Mohanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee has taken up a two-day programme at the Dhakeshwari National Temple from today to mark the birth festival of Lord Krishna. The traditional Janmashtami procession will be brought out from the national temple at 3:00pm today.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu will attend the programme as chief guest while Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon will formally inaugurate the procession.

As part of the central programme, a discussion meeting will be held at Dhakeshwari National Temple at 4:00pm on Saturday.

In a statement, leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and Mohanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee yesterday conveyed their greetings to all citizens of the country on the occasion of Janmashtami.