S DILIP ROY, Lalmonirhat

Thousands of devotees from the Hindu community yesterday gathered on the sandy shoals within the Brahmaputra river in Kurigram’s Chilmari upazila for the ‘Ashtami Snan’ -- a ritual dip in the river.

Since the dawn, the pilgrims converged on shoal areas amid chants, prayers, and spiritual fervour.

The upazila administration arranged designated bathing sites to facilitate orderly participation in the ritual.

For Hindu community members, Ashtami Snan -- often revered as Punya Snan -- is a deeply spiritual act symbolising cleansing of sins and purification of the soul through immersion in the Brahmaputra’s sacred waters on this auspicious day, to usher in divine blessings, inner peace, and spiritual renewal.

Pilgrims from across Bangladesh take part in the ritual, traditionally held during the Bangla month of Chaitra or the first week of Baishakh.

“The Ashtami Snan is believed to wash away sins and bring in a deep sense of inner peace,” said Ramesh Chandra Das, 70, from Rangpur.

Nagendra Nath Barman, 75, a pilgrim from Chilmari, said, “On this day, the waters of the Ganges and of the Brahmaputra merge to form a holy confluence that brings purification and peace.”

“Devotees come to offer prayers and perform Pind Daan for their ancestors on this sacred occasion,” said Kanai Chakrabarty, a priest.

Sachindra Nath Barman, president of Chilmari upazila Puja Udjapan Parishad, said around three lakh devotees annually participate in the three-century-old festival.

Chilmari UNO Mahmudul Hasan said law enforcers were deployed to ensure safety and smooth management, and fire service personnel remained on standby, while more than 200 volunteers assisted in crowd management.