Devotees across Bangladesh immersed themselves in the second day of Durga Puja on Saturday as Saptami rituals began with the ceremonial bath of the Nabapatrika, commonly known as the Kalabou, at the Dhakeshwari National Temple and pandals nationwide amidst calls for communal harmony.
Nabapatrika Bath and the Saptami Rituals at Dhakeshwari Temple
The morning of Saptami brought the rhythmic beat of dhaks, the scent of burning incense, and the arrival of senior devotees to temple grounds. According to reporting by Bdnews24, priests and devotees carried the red-bordered white-cloth-draped Nabapatrika—popularly called the Kalabou—to a nearby water body for its grand bath amid chanting and joyous ululations. Once the bath concluded, the bundle was brought back and installed to the right of the main deity to begin the primary bihi puja and kalparambha ceremonies.
The ritual bundle is constructed from nine distinct plants tied together with white Aparajita creepers and a pair of banian or bel fruits, draped in a sari to represent a veiled bride standing beside Lord Ganesha. Monindra Kumar Nath, adviser to the Mahanagar Puja Committee, noted the spiritual weight of the observances. Devotees are coming to the pandals to offer anjali and express their prayers at the feet of the Mother, he said, adding that the festival serves as a message to build a beautiful, prosperous and humane Bangladesh where everyone lives in peace.
State Funding, Security, and Nationwide Mandap Counts
Preparations for the festival span thousands of locations across the country, backed by increased government support.
“I'm Muslim. If my mother found out, she wouldn't let me visit a Durga Puja pandal. So, I've come here with my Hindu friend. It's a personal choice, and everyone has the right to make their own decisions.”:- A Muslim girl visiting Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/jPvSNKNL5t
In Dhaka, organizers set up 258 mandaps, a slight decrease of three from last year after road-based celebrations faced permit restrictions. At the national level, Basudev Dhar, president of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, welcomed government approval for an extended three-day holiday via executive order. Combined with the regular weekend, the adjustment creates a five-day break from October 20 to October 24.
Environmental Symbolism and Cultural Tradition in the Nine Plants
The nine plants forming the Nabapatrika carry deep agricultural and ecological meaning rooted in rural Bengal. As ABP Ananda detailed, the grouping combines plant species that sustain daily life: plantain, taro, turmeric, jayanti, bel, pomegranate, ashoka, mankachu, and paddy. Rather than representing Ganesha’s wife—a common misconception clarified by monastic and scriptural sources—the bundle embodies the nine divine manifestations of Goddess Durga herself.
Agriculturalist and columnist Pavel Parth, serving as an adviser to the Dhaka Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee, emphasized that the rituals reflect profound gratitude toward nature, crop production, and environmental preservation. Using locally sourced harvested goods and recycling water from nearby water bodies underscores an ecological mindfulness that survives in modern celebrations.
Celebrations at Dhaka’s Central Mandaps and Historic Markets
Historic commercial hubs and prominent temples across Dhaka drew heavy crowds as visitors navigated decorated alleys. Bartaman Patrika reported that the budget for the Dhakeshwari National Temple celebrations reached substantial figures.
In the narrow lanes of Shankharibazar and Tantibazar, artisans and vendors sold traditional ornaments, conch bangles, and deity attire. Workers from diverse backgrounds joined in preparing the grounds. Anwar Ali, a worker digging soil outside the Dhakeshwari temple to manage anticipated crowds, joined colleagues whose collaborative efforts highlighted an atmosphere of shared community labor during the national festival.