Janmashtami, one of the major religious festivals of the Hindu community commemorating the birth of Sri Krishna, will be celebrated across the country today with due religious fervour and gaiety.
According to Hindu mythology, Sri Krishna was born on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the Bangla month of Bhadra. It is believed that he incarnates in every age to protect the virtuous from the wicked and to establish truth, justice and beauty in society.
The festival is usually observed on the eighth day, Ashtami, of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Shraban or Bhadra.
Chief adviser Muhammad Yunus greeted the members of the Hindu community on the occasion of Janmashtami.
The day of Janmashtami is a public holiday in Bangladesh.
Temples, religious organisations, and various institutions have drawn up elaborate programmes to mark the occasion. National dailies will publish special articles, while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private TV and radio stations will air special programmes highlighting different aspects of the life and philosophy of Sri Krishna.
Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee has taken programme to observe the day centrally at Dhakeshwari Temple in the capital.
The programmes include Geeta Joggo at 8:00am at Dhakeshwari Temple. A Janmashtami procession will be brought out at 3:00pm from city鈥檚 Palashi intersection.
The Geeta Joggo on the national temple premises will be conducted by Shankar Math and Mission from Sitakunda, Chattogram.
Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman will inaugurate Janmashtami procession, which will be also attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan and Bangladesh Army 9th Infantry Division GOC Major General Md Moin Khan, among others.
Parading through the streets in front of Jagannath Hall, Shaheed Minar, Doyel Chatwar, High Court intersection, Banga Bazar and Golapshah Majar, the procession will come to an end at Bahadur Shah Park.
On August 19, a discussion will be held on Janmastami at the Dhakeshwari Temple.
Primary and Mass Education adviser Professor Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar will attend the function as chief guest.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness took a four-day programme from August 14 at Swamibagh Ahsram in the capital to mark the festival.