Hindu devotees, though a bit shaken in heart, are all set to invoke Durga, daughter of the majestic Himalayas, slayer of evil and purifier of life, and to supplicate to her for whatever boon they want from her.

For, today is Mahasaptami and noone, even no threat of violence, would be able to keep away the really ardent votaries from worshipping the Mother, dancing and singing, at some 20,000 Puja Mandaps across the country.

However, fear of bombing did make attendance and presence of devotees very low at the Mandaps FROM PAGE 16

yesterday. Even the unprecedented tight security measures of the government at the Puja Mandaps failed to imbibe any sense of safety and to dispel fear due to a series of attacks on different temples, vandalism and wreckage of the idols.

The government has installed metal directors and close-circuit cameras at and around the major Puja Mandaps and also has set joint teams of Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh Rifles and the police patrolling the Puja venues. It has formed and three monitoring cells and deployed large numbers of law enforcers at all Puja Mandaps to help the Hindus observe their biggest annual religious festival safely and with fervour.

Leaders of different religious organisations, including Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Mahanagar Sarbajaneen Puja Committee, Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Parishad and Bangladesh Christian Association told the press, despite government's security beef up, people are still fearful.

"People are not thronging the Puja Mandaps, as bomb and grenade attacks have been following one after another without any really tough resistance being put up by the government. It even has failed to nab the temple and mandap plunderers and the sacrilegious people who dared to smash the Host of Durga at several places in the country," said the press release.

Mahasaptami Puja today will be offered from 9:57am to 11:39am. Bhog of delicious food, fruits, incense etc will be offered to the divine family and later distributed among the assembled devotees.

The prime Puja Mandap in the capital is at Dhakeshwari National Temple. Large Mandaps have also been put up at Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University, Ramkrishna Mission, Ramna Kali Mandir, Siddheswari Kali Mandir, Tanti Bazar, Shankhari Bazar, Bangla Bazar and in Mohakhali and Farm Gate areas.

Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad have directed their district committees not to use loudspeakers and musical instruments during Iftar, Tarabi prayers and Sehri to avoid any untoward inci-

dents.

Different political, social and cultural organisations, meanwhile, continued to felicitate Hindus on the eve of the festival. They also condemned the attacks on Puja Mandaps and damage done to Durga idols across the country.

Our Tangail correspondent writes, fearing attack by the JMB militants, the law enforcers have intensified the security measures at all Puja Mandaps in the district.

Our Sylhet correspondent adds additional police contingents have been deployed at all the 317 Puja Mandaps in the district and at many temples metal detectors and CCTVs have been set up.