Staff Reporter: The Bangladeshi Hindu community has made an exceptional protest by setting up 17 puja mandap in New York, USA. Comilla, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Chandpur, Hajiganj, Hatia, Chapainawabganj in different parts of Bangladesh last Wednesday, vicious attacks on Hindus, vandalism of numerous idols, attacks on houses, protests against casualties and solidarity with oppressed Hindus in New York at 10 pm to10:05pm till silence is observed by ‘dimming’ (black-out).
Participating temples and religious organizations include Sri Krishna Bhaktasangha, Balaknath Mandir, Seba Sangha, Mahamaya Mandir, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, Sarvajanin Puja Udjapan Parishad, Bangladesh Hindu Mandir, Gournitai Mandir, Harichand-Guruchand International Matua Mandir and Mission, Temple, Om Shakti Temple, Devalaya Temple, North American Hindu Welfare Association, Radhamadhav Temple, Satyanarayana Puja Mandapa and Jamaica Kali Temple.
Durga Puja, a big festival of the followers of traditional religions, has started in 16 puja mandals in New York this year. The Durga Puja, which started on Monday (October 11), will continue till October 15. The mandapa is open to the public from 10 am every day and closes after midnight. People of all religions are seen taking part in this universal festival.
Meanwhile, Armed police are guarding Durgotsab after two groups clashed at the Mahamaya temple of the Bangladeshi Hindu community in Jamaica, New York, USA. One of the two groups involved in a leadership dispute clashed last Wednesday (October 6) night when another group tried to set up a temple for worship in the name of raising funds. Upon receiving the news, the police rushed to the spot. Police arrested Shyamal Chakraborty and Nirmal Pal, the heads of the two committees.In this incident, armed police patrol is going on at Shardiya Durga Puja which started from last Monday at Mahamaya temple in Jamaica. This is the first time in New York that a fort festival has been reported under armed police guard at a temple.
According to reliable sources, for a long time, there were various tensions over the leadership of the Mahamaya Temple in Jamaica, New York. Two committees have been formed in the last one year, the matter will be taken to court. One committee was allowed by the court to worship on Saturday and the other one on Sunday. This is how the activities of Mahamaya temple were going on. Last week, Shyamal Chakraborty’s group was ordered to use the temple for five days to raise funds. Taking advantage of this opportunity, they started decorating the temple for worship. Upon receiving the news, the people of Nirmal group came running. At first, when the argument started, there was extreme tension between the two. At one stage both groups got involved in clashes. When Shyamal Chakraborty attacked one of them, Nirmal Pal stopped him. Enraged, Shyamal Chakraborty physically assaulted his rival Nirmal Pal and complained to the police. When the police arrived, Shyamal Chakraborty informed the police that Nirmal Pal had also attacked him. Arriving at the scene at 10:30 pm, after questioning both parties, police arrested Shyamal Chakraborty and Nirmal Pal, the leaders of the two groups, and took them to the Jamaica police station. When Nirmal Pal fell ill there, he was admitted to a Jamaican hospital. Another accused Shyamal Chakraborty was released on bail around 3 am on Thursday (October 7).
Extreme panic is prevailing among the expatriate Hindu community in the Jamaica area over the incident. Shardiya Durga Puja is being held under police guard at Mahamaya Mandir starting from Monday. As a result, the number of priests and visitors to the temple is very low. In New York, Durgotsab is going on in 16 other puja mandops of the Bangladeshi Hindu community. No untoward incident was reported anywhere.
BP/SM
