Our Durga Puja greetings

Unfortunately, we have had to preamble the write-up with a negative allusion so as to din the right sense into the trouble-mongers' ears that never again should the mischief be enacted. For, it not only hurts the sentiments of the Hindus, who must be seeing their biggest festival as a touchstone of their religious rights but also the sensibility of all people in the country.

Why should a handful be able to sneak through the defences and even try to undermine the longstanding inter-communal harmony between the Muslims and Hindus. In fact, all communities in Bangladesh have equal constitutional rights to observance of their religious festivals, practices and rights.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

On the whole, the government must be credited with having put in place such security devices as metal detectors and CCTV at the sites which enabled the devotees to perform their obligations well enough. The terrorist threat is a reality that cannot be wished away, and must now be met with all the modern arsenal we can command.

The true strength of a pluralistic society lies in mutual and spontaneous respect for all religious festivals by way of sharing the mirth and well-being of one another.

Nabami and Dashami marking the final phase of the Puja festivities fall today, and, as the most auspicious occasion in the Hindu calendar approaches its climax with the immersion of the Goddess Durga, we wish them happy Bijoya.