Shyama Puja and Diwali being celebrated today

Shyama Puja (Kali Puja), the second-largest religious festival of the Hindu community, along with Diwali, the festival of lights, will be celebrated across the country on Sunday.

Shyama Puja is traditionally observed on the new moon night of the Bengali month of Kartik. Preparations are underway at Hindu households and temples to welcome Goddess Shyama, worshipped as the goddess of power and peace, with festivities and celebrations spreading across the community.

Kali Puja and Diwali hold a significant place in Bengali culture. While Hindus in Bangladesh commonly call the festival Deepavali, non-Bengali Hindus refer to it as Diwali. The religious occasion is also known as Deepannita Kali Puja.

For centuries, the festival has been observed as a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, symbolising the removal of darkness, which represents evil and misfortune, and the establishment of light, goodness and prosperity. Bengali, Assamese and Odia Hindus traditionally observe Kali Puja on this lunar occasion.

According to the almanac, the new moon phase will begin at 1:02pm on Sunday and end at 11:58am on Monday.

Kali Puja is generally performed around midnight. Many devotees also observe Lakshmi Puja on the same lunar occasion.

On the occasion, Hindu devotees light earthen lamps at their homes and cremation grounds in the evening to pay homage to their deceased parents, relatives and ancestors.

Preparations for Shyama Puja have been made at various temples and venues in the capital, including Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramna Kali Temple, Ramakrishna Mission and Math, Siddheshwari Kali Temple, Shri Shri Bardeśwari Kalimata Temple in Sabujbagh, Radhagobinda Jiu Thakur Temple in Old Dhaka, Postogola Mahashmashan, Tanti Bazar, Shankhari Bazar and Banglabazar.