Shyama Puja and Diwali celebrated across Bangladesh

Hindus across Bangladesh are celebrating Shyama Puja and Diwali, two major religious festivals, on Sunday (November 8), with devotees worshipping Goddess Kali and lighting lamps to spread the message of light overcoming darkness.

Shyama Puja is observed annually on the new moon night of the Bengali month of Kartik. Temples and puja mandaps across the country, including in the capital Dhaka, have arranged various programmes to mark the occasion. Devotees are offering prayers to Goddess Kali, while households are making preparations for the rituals. Lighting lamps and illuminating homes and temples are also part of the celebrations.

Shyama Puja is also known as Kalipu ja or Dipannita Kalipu ja. While Diwali is widely known among Bengali Hindus as the festival of lights, non-Bengali Hindus celebrate it as Diwali or Diwali (Diwali). The festival carries special religious significance as a symbol of the destruction of evil forces and darkness and the triumph of goodness and prosperity.

According to the traditional almanac, the new moon phase began at 11:58am Bangladesh time on Sunday and will end at 1:02pm on Monday. The main rituals of Shyamapuja are generally performed around midnight. Many families also observe Lakshmipuja on the same day.

As part of the celebrations, many people light lamps at their homes, temples and cremation grounds in memory of their deceased parents and relatives. Temples and puja mandaps in different parts of the country have arranged illumination, aarti, prayers and other religious programmes.

In Dhaka, Shyama Puja is being observed at several prominent religious sites, including Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramna Kalimandir, Ramakrishna Mission and Math, Siddheshwari Kalimandir, Sri Sri Bordeśwari Kalimata Temple in Sabujbagh, Radhagobinda Jiu Temple in Old Dhaka and Postogola Mahashamshan. Celebrations are also taking place in the Tantibazar, Shankharibazar and Banglabazar areas.