Mahasaptami, an important day of Durga Puja, celebrates the goddess's victory over Mahishashur, the demon, symbolising the victory of good over evil. Devotees recite hymns and offer flowers on this day seeking blessings of Durgatinashini Durga, the saviour from all evils.

Following the lunar schedule, Mahasaptami puja.will have to begin within 8:22am today.

Devotees attended the mandaps yesterday to receive Durga and her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh, who the Hindus believe descend on earth on invitation from the devotees through Bodhon rituals and Mahashasthi puja.

Devotees' presence at the mandaps was much less than expected yesterday.

However, leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and Mahanagar Sarbajaneen Puja Committee said people from all walks of life will gather at the puja mandaps from today as the main puja begins from Mahasaptami.

Metal detectors and close-circuit cameras will be installed at the high-risk and big puja mandaps across the country today, home ministry sources said. Meanwhile, the government has identified 8,209 puja mandaps as high-risk centres and 5226 others as low-risk ones.

Ansars have been deployed at every puja mandap while Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh Rifles and the police will patrol the puja venues for ensuring the security of the visitors.

Monitoring cells have been formed to help the Hindus observe their biggest annual religious festival.

The prime puja mandap in the capital is at Dhakeshwari National Temple. Large mandaps have also been put up at Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University, Ramkrishna Mission, Ramna Kali Mandir, Siddheswari Kali Mandir, Tanti Bazar, Shankhari Bazar, Bangla Bazar, Mohakhali and Farmgate.

Different political, social and cultural organisations, meanwhile, continued to felicitate Hindus on the eve of the festival. They also condemned the attacks on puja mandaps and damage done to Durga idols across the country.