Samadrita Bhowmik, a student from the English department’s 2018-19 batch, took the lead in performing rituals such as Banibharchana, Aarti, and Pushpanjali during the Saraswati Puja, as Hindu students paid homage to the goddess of wisdom and music. While male priests conducted ceremonies at 36 other mandaps on campus, Samadrita’s initiative stood out and received widespread praise from both students and faculty.

An English department student applauded the effort, stating, “Just as knowledge knows no gender boundaries, religious practices should be free from gender discrimination. There is nothing in the scriptures that prevents women from leading puja.”

Samadrita expressed her motivation, saying, “Many believe women aren’t allowed to perform puja, but that’s simply not true. I wanted to challenge this misconception by leading the rituals myself.”

This year, the university hosted a total of 37 mandaps, organized by 33 academic departments, two institutes, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall, and three departments from the Faculty of Fine Arts. The campus came alive with colorful alpana designs and decorative lights, creating a festive ambiance. Students decorated mandaps in prominent spots such as Shanto Chattar, the ground floor of the Shaheed Sajid Academic Building, the Faculty of Science courtyard, the Arts Building, and the Faculty of Social Sciences area.

To maintain a safe and smooth celebration, the university enforced strict security protocols. Proctor Professor Md Tajammul Haque stated, “We’ve ensured maximum security for the puja celebrations. Law enforcement, police, and the university’s proctorial team are on constant patrol, with CCTV cameras installed throughout the campus. All puja activities must conclude by 8:00 pm according to university guidelines.”