Mahanavami celebrated

A woman blows on a 'Sankha' (conch shell) in front of the idol of Goddess Durga at Ramna Kali Mandir yesterday on Mahanavami, the fourth day of Durga Puja.Photo: STAR

Hundreds of Hindu devotees celebrated Mahanavami puja across the country yesterday, the day fourth of Durga Puja.
Navami Bhog was offered to the goddess Durga and distributed among the devotees who gathered at the puja mandaps.
In the city, people from all walks of life visited different Puja mandaps at Dhakeshwari Temple, Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University, Ramna Kali Mandir, Siddheswari Kali Mandir, Kalabagan ground, and the temples of Tanti Bazar, Shankhari Bazar and Bangla Bazar.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the Dhakeshwari Tample in the afternoon and greeted the Hindu devotees.
Leaders of different socio-culture and political organisations visited the Durga Puja mandaps in the city and exchanged greetings with people.
Prof Mijanur Rahman, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, visited Puja Mandaps at Kalabagan ground in Dhanmondi and DU Jagannath Hallto greet the Hindus.
He also expressed satisfaction over the peaceful and spontaneous celebration of the biggest festival of Hindu community across the country.
President of Workers Party of Bangladesh, Rashed Khan Menon, visited several puja mandaps. Leaders of Samprayadaikata-Jangibad Birodhi Mancha, a platform against communalism and militancy, also visited several mandaps in the city.
Voluntary blood donation programmes were held, Prasad distributed, and Anjali offerred on the mandap premises where hundreds of people with family members, friends and others gathered to seek blessings of the goddess Durga. Navami Puja followed Sandhi Puja the day before yesterday.