This year’s Sharadiya Durga Puja, the largest religious festival for Bangladesh’s Hindu community, has generated an estimated Tk 110 billion in economic activity, according to the Bangladesh Central Puja Celebration Committee. The festival, marked by elaborate decorations, themed pandals, lighting, and cultural programs, was celebrated across the country, with the number of puja mandaps increasing to 33,851 from 32,360 in the previous year.

Committee officials and local traders attributed the significant boost to sectors including retail, clothing, footwear, cosmetics, food, lighting, and decoration. The financial outlay for organizing a single mandap varied widely, ranging from Tk 100,000 for smaller celebrations to as much as Tk 10 million for larger, more elaborate ones. These costs cover expenses such as idol creation, site development, lighting installations, sound systems, and religious offerings, including prasad.

Residents in upscale areas such as Banani and Kalabagan reported higher expenditure, citing costs exceeding Tk 10 million due to the expensive decorations and thematic installations involved. The committee estimated total spending on mandap arrangements nationwide at over Tk 10 billion this year.

Government support played a role in facilitating the festivities, with financial assistance and food provisions distributed to puja mandaps across the country. Local administrations and law enforcement agencies heightened security efforts to ensure peaceful and orderly celebrations throughout the festival period.

In Nilphamari, where 812 mandaps were organized, government aid included Tk 10,000 to Tk 15,000 in cash per mandap and allocations of 600 kilograms of rice each. Local reports indicated additional financial support was provided by lawmakers affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami. At one site in Rannagar Union, expenditures for six days of programming—including lighting, sound, offerings, and security—totaled approximately Tk 2.1 million.

Political figures emphasized the government’s commitment to fostering a safe environment for all religious communities. Ganesh Chandra Ray Sahosh, Dhaka University Unit president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, noted that some venues where Durga Puja celebrations had been previously suspended under the Awami League administration were able to resume festivities this year under the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

The festival in Mymensingh drew visitors from both within Bangladesh and across the border. Local authorities in the district reported that the government distributed Tk 145.5 million in grants among 257 puja mandaps, with security measures deemed to be more than adequate. Organizers there described the event as peaceful and festive, reflecting the broader national atmosphere during this year’s Durga Puja celebrations.