The Hindu community is observing Janmashtami, marking the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, today across the country with due religious fervor and merriment.
According to Hindu religion, Lord Vishnu incarnated in the universe as Lord Krishna in the prison of Raja Kangsa on this day, the eighth of ‘Shukla Pakkha’ (bright fortnight) in the month of Bengali calendar Bhadra in Dwapara Yuga to protect religion and good spirit and punish the evils.
Sri Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura to which Krishna’s parents belonged. The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Rowshan Ershad, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, in separate messages, greeted the members of Hindu community on the occasion.
Different temples, religious, social, and cultural organisations have planned elaborate programmes to observe Janmashtami. Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee have taken up a two-day programme centrally at Dhakeshwari National Temple.
The festival began with Geeta Joggo at 8:00 am at Dhakeshwari National Temple to seek blessing for the country and the nation.
Janmashtami’s traditional procession will be brought out from Palashi intersection in the afternoon where Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader will join as the chief guest, while Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh will inaugurate it.
Wearing colourful dresses and props, thousands of devotees, including children dressed up as Lord Krishna, will join the event. The procession will end at Victoria Park in Old Dhaka after marching different city streets. Later, Krishna Puja will be offered at 8:00 pm at the temple.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will exchange greetings with Hindu community members on the occasion of Janmashtami on Thursday. Marking the festival, a discussion will be held at the Dhakeshwari National Temple on Friday. International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON) has also taken programmes at Swamibagh Asram in the capital on the occasion.
Swami Bholanandagiri Asram, Prabhu Jagadbandhu Mahaprakash Math, Radhamadhab Jio Deb Bigraha Temple, Baradeshwari Kalimata Temple and Crematorium, Radha Gobinda Jio Temple, Shib Temple, Ramseeta Temple and Madhab Gourio Math and different other temples and religious organisations will arrange various programmes in the capital marking the festival.
Besides, numerous other temples across the country will also celebrate the occasion organising different programmes.
Source: The Daily SUN.