The day-long traditional Annual Astami Snan and a religious bathing festival of Hindu Community,the second biggest holy bathing in the country held at Chilmari Ghat of Brahmaputra river at Chilmari upazila of Kurigram district on Wednesday (March 29) from early in the morning with due respect and solemnity.

More than two lakh of Hindu devotees including male, female and children from all districts of Rangpur division including other parts of the country arrived here by buses, trucks, private car, rickshaw and mechanized boats, President of Chilmari Puja Utjapan committee Dr. Salil Kumar Barman said.

However, the devotees who came here took holy bath in the Bramaputra River in commemoration of saint Parshuram who had bath on this eighth day of Lunar month in the river Bramaputra and freed himself from sin as he killed his mother Renuka Debi by an axe at the order of his father Jamadagni according to Hindu believe. Consequently the Hindu community used to come here in this day to free themselves from sin in the Bangla month of Chaitra every year. The duration of the main sun (bathing) was from 6.10 to 7.52 am on the day. The Hindu devotees took bath in the Brahmaputra River and performed Puja to be free from sin.

Chilmari Upazila administration sources said that temporary police camp set up in the spot of Austomy Snan in government arrangement, set up tube well for pure drinking water and some two hundred tents set up for changing clothes after bathing of women in collaboration with government and non-government organization, Chilmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahbubur Rahman said.

According to Sukla tethi the best time of taking bath from 4.00 am to 5.30am and the best Loglo from 9.10am to 9.10pm on Wednesday.

A good number of police and Ansar and RAB members were deployed to maintain law and order situation during festival. Special polices kept on alert all time at risky points. A three day Mela(festival) held in three kilometer from Ramna to Rajarvita under Thanahat union of the upazila area under the upazila on Wednesday  in this regard where many stalls were set up with attractive articles including flute, earth made things, portraits of goddess, tiger, mango etc. Bioscope and circus were also arranged there.  People from of all walks of life gathered there to buy some items for their dear and near ones. Various kinds of toys and household items were also sold in the mela(fair).

Superintendent of Police Mehedul Karim told that special security measures have been taken for smooth bathing and peaceful environment.

Chilmari upazila parishad Rokonuzzaman Shahin told that necessary measures have been taken like previous years as no problems will arise.