Artisans are busy making idols of goddess Durga as people from Hindu community in the district are going to celebrate five-day long Durga puja, the biggest religious festival of the Sanatan community, in the district from October 9.
Local leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP) said the celebrations will begin from October 9 and end on October 13 with the 'Bijoya Dashami' rally and immersion of the idols of goddess Durga in water bodies.
The district administration and police sources said adequate steps have been taken to ensure peaceful celebrations of Durga puja at all 835 mandaps erected in the metropolis and all other eight upazilas across the district.
Sufficient numbers of the police force, Rapid Action battalion (RAB) and Ansar-VDP will be deployed amid vigilance of patrolling army teams and close circuit cameras be installed at all mandaps to ensure peaceful celebrations.
Durga puja will be celebrated at 152 mandaps in Rangpur metropolis, 68 in Sadar upazila, 95 in Gangachara, 47 in Taraganj, 123 in Badarganj, 106 in Mithapukur, 105 in Pirganj, 73 in Pirgachha and 66 mandaps in Kawnia upazilas of the district.
Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sharif Uddin in a meeting with local BPUP leaders held here on Saturday last said that the police force would maintain law and order situation in all Puja mandaps to ensure peaceful Durga puja celebrations.
"The use of close circuit cameras will be ensured in every Puja mandap," he said, adding that the police force as well as the Puja celebration committees should be vigilant to ensure peaceful celebration of the festivity.
The district administration, RpMP and Puja Mandap authorities have taken ample security measures and some special steps to ensure peaceful celebrations at all Puja mandaps.
In the meantime, artisans are now working round the clock to give finishing touches to erected idols of goddess Durga with their artistic creativity and colors to make those more charming, attractive and stunning in looks.
Talking to BSS, artisan Sukumar Paul at a Mandir in Rangpur city on Friday said, "I am passing my busiest time to complete the erection and adornment of idols of goddess Durga with artistic imagination and colors."
Artisans Shudhir Paul and Akhiles Paul at different Puja mandaps here said they are interminably to complete coloring of the erected idols of goddess Durga with artistic inventiveness.
BPUP's Rangpur district unit President Ram Jiban Kundu and city unit General Secretary Advocate Prashant Kumar Roy expressed satisfaction over the steps taken to ensure peaceful celebration of the upcoming Durga puja festival.
