Holy Ashtami Snan starts tomorrow
Two-day long event is believed among Hindus to be a purifier of all sins
Every year devotees from all over Bangladesh and other regions come to Langalbandh in Narayanganj for a dip in the holy waters of the Brahmaputra.
The holy Ashtami Snan, a Hindu religious ritual, is celebrated on the eighth day of the lunar month which falls in the Bengali month of Chaitra.
The bath is important because, according to Hindu mythology, it purifies all sins of a pilgrim.
Langalbandh on the bank of Brahmaputra is ready for the Ashtami Snan which will start tomorrow.
As per the auspicious time, this year Mahastami Snan will start tomorrow at 10:14am in the morning and continue till 7:52am on Sunday.
A three-tier security measure has been designed ahead of the religious festival in 12 ghats at Langalbandh.
Besides, Basanti puja will start at Langalbandh on March 23 with Mahashoshti and end on March 26 with Mohanabami and Dasami.
Narayanganj police said over 1,200 policemen will be deployed for ensuring security of the pilgrims.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (general) Md Abdul Hamid Miah of Narayanganj said mobile courts will be deployed in three spots. Moreover, watch towers and CCTVs will be installed.
Rab-11 commander Lt Col Kamrul Hasan said six patrol teams and plainclothes teams will also be deployed. The number will be increased, if needed, he added.
On a visit to Langalbandh, it was found that there is no good arrangement for women devotees. Although there are few rooms on the side of the ghats, those are inadequate and unclean. A total of 33 religious social voluntary organisations have set up camps to provide service to the devotees on the occasion.
Shankar Saha, executive member of Langalbandh Snan Udjapan Parishad and Narayanganj district unit president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, said 200 to 250 volunteers will work round the clock.
This time two high-powered generators will be employed, he said, adding that CCTV cameras will be installed at 36 points in 16 ghats.
Saroj Kumar Saha, president of Langalbandh Snan Udjapan Parishad, said there will be 100 temporary sewerages, 60 deep tube wells and a supply of pure drinking water.