The six-day long Kartiany Puja started in Magura district on Sunday.
For the celebration, 89 Puja mandaps have been set up and hundreds of gates have been erected across the district town.
Although Durga Puja is the biggest festival for Hindus across the country, Magura is an exception where Kartiany Puja is observed with pompous festivity.
Local Hindus say Shatish Chandra Biswas of village Nanduali in Magura sadar upazila was the pioneer of Kartiany Puja in the district. Shatish observed the puja in his house 65 years ago and the festivity of the puja is increasing day by day.
According to Hindu legend, women in the Dapore era who lived on the banks of the Jamuna River, worshiped Lord Shree Kishna in the Bangla month of Kartik. Following their tradition, residents of Magura have been observing the puja.
Basudev Kundu, president of Magura district Puja Udjapan Parishad said 89 puja stages have been set up in the district.
He said the Kartiany festival was also a manifestation of communal harmony in the district where Hindus and Muslims would celebrate the festival.
"We are proud that we have been successfully observing the Puja for years with immense festivity. We are grateful to the people and the district administration for their cooperation in this regard." he added.
A good number of Hindu devotees from India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal also visit the district every year to celebrate the festival.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Tariqul Islam, said security has been beefed up in the district for the Kartiany Puja festival.
Around 65 years ago fisherman Shatish Maghi of Nanduali village under Magura Sadar started observing this Puja for the first time in the district.
From then onwards, the Hindu community of the district celebrate the Puja every year.
A good number of Hindu devotees from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal visit the district every year to celebrate the festival.
Pronay Ghosh, general secretary of Notun Bazar Smreeti Shangha Puja Manda, "Kartiany Puja is our glorious tradition. We get support from all section of the society for the festival."
Proddut Kamar Shingha, president of Magura district Puja Udjapan Parishad, "We are proud that we have been successfully observing the Puja for years with immense festivity. We are grateful to the people and the district administration for the cooperation in this connection."
