The Hindus celebrated Janmashtami, a religious festival marking the birth of Lord Sri Krishna, across the country amid festivity and religious fervour yesterday.
On the occasion, the devotees offered worship (puja), sang hymns to Krishna, and held discussion, padavali kirtan, Geeta Jaggyam (special prayers), drama, and cultural events at different temples.
President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Khaleda Zia in separate messages greeted the Hindu community.
The president also hosted a reception yesterday to the Hindu community at Bangabhaban.
In the capital, thousands of men, women, and children joined the traditional Janmashtami procession brought out from the Palashi intersection near the national temple, Dhakeshwari Jatiya Mandir. The procession ended at Bahadur Shah Park after parading different streets.
Dhaka Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka inaugurated the procession while Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Gowher Rizvi, State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku, and Maj Gen (retd) CR Dutta Bir Uttam, spoke, among others, on the occasion.
Mohanagar Sarbojoneen Puja Committee and Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad jointly organised the Janmashtami procession. The organisations also arranged elaborate programme at Dhakeshwari Mandir including Geeta Jaggyam for the welfare of the country and its people.
According to legend, Janmashtami is celebrated to mark the birth of Bhagwan Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, to slay cruel king of Mathura city, Kansa. Kansa, also the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna, was a self-proclaimed King of the city of Mathura (a city in northern India). He overthrew his father, King Ugrasen, and forcefully became the king. He was very wicked and evil in thinking. His subjects feared him.
-With The Daily Star input
