Directive to avoid high-volume microphones, fireworks, unnecessary lighting in Puja

The Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council has given 26-point directives for the Puja Celebration Committees at the district and upazila levels to celebrate the Sharadiya Durga Puja in a peaceful, safe and environment-friendly manner. In the directives a call has been made to avoid the use of high-volume microphones and sound systems, bursting fireworks and crackers and unnecessary lighting.

It has been said in the directives to use environment-friendly materials instead of plastic in various organisations including decorating the Puja pandals. Unnecessary lighting will have to be kept closed to prevent the wastage of electricity. However sufficient light arrangements will have to be kept at the pandals and important places around for the sake of security. The directive has also been given to keep alternative electricity arrangements including generators, UPS, solar panels and charger lights ready to keep the emergency activities running during power outages. Emphasis has also been given on using high-quality wires and safe connection systems in the electricity connection.

The Council has advised to refrain from the use of high-volume microphones and sound systems along with keeping the bursting of fireworks and crackers banned to control sound pollution. It has also been said to refrain from playing other songs outside the religious and devotional music. Caution has also been given so that the organisation of the Puja does not become a cause of inconvenience or sound pollution for the surrounding residents.

General Secretary of the Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council Santosh Sharma said that high-volume DJ playing at the Puja pandals has been prohibited. Instead the directive has been given to play religious songs.

To ensure security, it has been said to take the necessary measures on own initiative at every temple and Puja pandal along with maintaining coordination with the local administration and law and order forces. There is also the directive to install CCTV cameras at important places and entrances, sufficient light arrangements and keep fire extinguishing equipment.

Attention will have to be given to cleanliness, security and environmental protection at every stage from the construction of the idol to the end of the Puja. The fixed date and place will have to be followed in the case of the immersion and immersion of the idol. Advice has been given to maintain discipline and security in the immersion procession along with taking the highest caution. The Council has specially requested to complete the immersion within the evening if possible.

It has been said to keep separate arrangements for the entry and movement of the female and male visitors at the Puja pandals. Alongside appointing sufficient volunteers to maintain discipline, a list will have to be submitted to the related police station and police outpost by preserving their names, addresses and mobile phone numbers. The directive has also been given to use visible identity cards to ensure the identity of the volunteers.

Advice has been given to quickly inform the law and order forces and the central monitoring cell without spreading rumours if any accident or unexpected incident occurs. Contact will have to be made with the national emergency service 999 if necessary. It has been said to hand over to the police without taking the law into one’s own hands if anyone is found involved in eve-teasing, snatching or any other crime.

It has been said in the directives that the Sharadiya Durga Puja is not only a religious festival; it is also a symbol of peace, harmony, goodwill and mutual respect. The Council has called for making Durga Puja 2026 peaceful, safe, harmonious and environment-friendly through the collective efforts of all.