Janmashtami being celebrated on Wednesday in Bangladesh

Dhaka Sep 6 : Janmashtami, one of the major festivals of the Hindu community commemorating the birth of Lord Sri Krishna, is being celebrated countrywide on Wednesday with due religious fervour and gaiety.

According to Hindu mythology, Sri Krishna was born on the eighth day of dark fortnight in the Bangla month of Bhadra and he takes birth in ages in the world to safeguard the good and pious people from the hands of malevolent people by establishing truth, justice and beauty in the society.

It is usually observed on the eighth day (ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Shraban or Bhadra.

The day of Janmashtami is a public holiday in Bangladesh.

On the eve of the festival, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages extending greetings and felicitations to Hindu community members and wished success of all programmes.

President Shahabuddin, in his message, said Janmashtami is one of the major religious festivals of the Hindu community.

Sri Krishna was philanthropic, lover, politician and social reformer and his main philosophy was to forge the bond of true love and harmony among people removing injustice, repression, persecution and conflicts from society, he said.

According to Hindu religion, the President said, Lord Sri Krishna takes birth in ages in the earth to protect religion and good people and annihilate sins and malevolent people.

Bangladesh is country of communal harmony as it is unique characteristic of the nation’s culture, he said.

“We will have to keep intact the existing harmony and mutual amity to expedite the national progress and prosperity,” President Mohammed Shahabuddin said.

He called upon all irrespective of religious view and opinions including the Hindus to stand by helpless and distressed people of society with the great mantra of philanthropy being imbued with the philosophy of Lord Sri Krishna.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said Sri Krishna’s main goal was to establish brotherhood and equity in society and he upheld the flag of peace, love for humanity and justice throughout his life.

She said Lord Krishna worshiped the mankind through his life and work.

The premier said her Awami League government is determined to protect communal harmony in the country.

Noting that people of all castes and creeds have been living peacefully for ages, she said the country’s constitution guarantees equal rights for people of all castes and creeds.

“We believe-religion is for individuals, festivals for all. Our main goal is to make development for people of all classes, professions and communities. We are working to ensure dignified and safe living for people of all communities to achieve this goal,” said Sheikh Hasina.

She hoped the ideals and teachings of Sri Krishna would further consolidate the thousand-year-old communal harmony, amity and bond of friendship of the Bengalees.

She called upon all to make united efforts to build Bangladesh as a Smart, developed, non-communal and peaceful country.

Temples and religious organisations and institutions have also chalked out programmes to celebrate Janmashtami festival.

National dailies will publish special articles while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, other private TV channels and radio stations will air special programmes highlighting various aspects of life and philosophy of Lord Sri Krishna.

Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee have taken up a two-day programme centrally at Dhakeshwari National Temple here.

Manindra Kumar Nath, president of Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee said the festival will begin with Geeta Joggo at 8am at Dhakeshwari National Temple to seek blessing for the country and the nation.

A historic Janmashtami procession will be brought out from Palashi intersection in the afternoon.