Maha Saptami, the second day of the five-day Sharadiyo Durga Puja, was celebrated Thursday amid due religious fervor and rituals at all puja mandaps in Khulna.
Temples and makeshift mandaps witnessed huge devotees and visitors as beautifully crafted idols of Goddess Durga were installed formally on Maha Shasthi on Wednesday.
Though puja began from Maha Shasthi, devotees started visiting puja pandals and mandaps from today morning on the day of Maha Saptami.
Dressed in traditional red and white color sharee and panjabi, a massive number of devotees were seen visiting puja pandals across the city today.
Temples and mandaps have been illuminated and decorated gorgeously marking the puja as some puja pandals were portrayed in different theme signifying different aspects of life and religious stories.
While visiting different puja mandaps, this reporter found that Maha Saptami puja was observed across the city this morning with religious fervour.
Maha Saptami puja was followed by offering Anjali to Goddess by devotees, many of them kept fasting till the puja.
Later, prashad was distributed among devotees.
About the rituals performed at the City’s Arjya Dharmasava Temple on Maha Saptami today, City Unit Puja Udjapon Parishad general secretary Proshanta Kumar Kundu said, nabapatrika snan was held in the morning followed by Maha Saptami Puja, offering of Anjali and distribution of Prashad.
Identical rituals were also held at all temples at all Puja mandaps in the city, he said.
Temples and puja mandaps are now witnessing recitation of verses from the Holy Sri Sri Chandi, blowing of conch shells and beating of traditional dhak-dhols (traditional drums), kashor since Wednesday and it will continue for next days until immersion of idols on the day of Bijoya Dashami on October 13.
On the third day of Maha Ashtami on October 11, different rituals including offering of Anjali will be held in the morning and Sandhi Puja in the late afternoon or in the evening.
Sandhi Puja will be offered at a transition point between Ashtami and Nabami.
Durga Puja is being celebrated at mandaps across the country this year including 125 in the city and 791 in the district, according to City and District Unit Puja Udjapan Parishad.
Stringent security measures have taken in the city and district during the celebration of Durga Puja to avert any untoward incident.
