BANGLADESH

The 88 Durga Puja pavilions in Old Dhaka seem to be competing with each other for the best looks.

Members of the Puja committees in charge of the pandals welcomed your correspondent for an inspection of the idols, colourful gates and stages on Saturday, the eve of Puja.

Durga Puja, the biggest annual religious festival of the Hindus in Bangladesh, begins on Sunday across the country. Sunday is the Maha Shashthhi, the sixth day of the moon when Goddess Durga is welcomed with much fanfare and gusto.

Each committee claimed their pandal was the most beautiful, explaining the artwork and inspirations behind the décor.

"We took the design for our stage from a stage in India," said organisers from the Kotwali Sri Sri Shiva Temple.

The giant bright orange gates of Pratidwandi Shangha, who are organising Puja for the 40th year, are the first to be seen as one walks into Shankharibazar.

Shangha president Anil Roy told  their stage, gates and idol were the best.

Jamuna Mai Ashram Puja Committee in Gendaria said their idols were being coloured by the artisan they had brought in from Bikrampur.

"He has done an excellent work this time," said committee secretary Nirmal Roy Chowdhury.

Reputed artisans from Bikrampur, Faridpur and Brahmanbaria, who have been in this craft for generations, are usually called upon when Durga idols are made.

Tantibazar, Jamidar Bari, Durgabari, Shangha Mitra, Goalnagar PAnchayet, Laxmibazar's Sabuj Shangha committees said they had almost completed their preparations.

On Shakharibazar Road alone there are 11 pandals for Puja. Metropolitan Puja Committee officials said there were 35 pandals in Sutrapur, 13 in Gendaria, nine in Hajaribagh and one each in Lalbagh, Bangshal and Chawkbazar.