Janmashtami celebrated in Muslim Country

Hindus take part in a colourful procession brought out from Palashi intersection in the capital yesterday celebrating Janmashtami, which marks the birth of the Hindu god Krishna. Photo: Star

The country’s Hindu community yesterday celebrated Janmashtami, a religious festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna, with religious fervour.

Different religious and socio-cultural organisations arranged various programmes including prayer to Lord Krishna, discussions, songs praising Krishna and cultural functions.

In the capital, thousands of people, some dressed as Lord Krishna, Krishna’s father Basudev, mother Deboki, brother Balaram and maternal uncle Kongsha, on foot and on over 100 trucks joined the traditional Janmashtami procession.

Brought out from Palashi intersection near Dhakeshwari National Temple, the procession, part of a three-day programme organised by Mohanagar Sarbojaneen Puja Committee, paraded different roads amid stringent security before ending at Bahadur Shah Park.

Sector Commander Maj Gen (retd) CR Dutta Biruttam inaugurated the procession, attended by Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku and Indian Deputy High Commissioner to Dhaka Sandeep Chakraborty.

Devotees also gathered at temples, including Ramakrishna Math and Mission, ISKCON temple at Swamibagh and Mirpur Kendrio Mandir, in the morning to offer their prayers to Lord Krishna.
Vivekananda Shiksha O Sangskriti Parishad of Dhaka University arranged a special prayer at Jagannath Hall. Colourful Janmashtami processions were also brought out in other divisional cities and district headquarters.

Citing from Hindu mythology, Swami Sthiratmananda, assistant secretary of Ramakrishna Mission, said Lord Krishna, the incarnation of God, descended to this world some 5,500 years ago on the 8th lunar day of dark fortnight in the Bangla month Bhadra vowing to establish love, truth and justice.

Devotees observed the day fasting and thinking divine of God to purify their hearts, he added.