Durga Puja ends today with idol immersion

Vijaya Dashami today brings the six-day Sharadiya Durgotsab to a close. Through idol immersion, followers of the Sanatan faith will bid farewell to Goddess Durga across the country. The Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad has instructed puja organisers to complete all immersion rituals before evening, citing security concerns.

Wednesday’s (21 October) programme includes the Dashami Bihita Puja, the Darpan Bisarjan (mirror immersion) and the immersion of the idols. In the capital, an immersion procession will set out from Dhakeshwari National Temple. After winding through various streets, it will end at Sadarghat.

This year’s Durgotsab began on 16 October with Shashthi Puja. Yesterday, Tuesday, was Mahanavami. On that day, devotees and visitors thronged temples and puja mandaps across the country, including the densely populated areas of Old Dhaka.

Devotees worshipped Goddess Durga, venerated as the destroyer of evil forces and as Mahishasuramardini, the slayer of the demon Mahishasura. According to Hindu belief, the Goddess returns to her husband, Lord Shiva, in Kailash when the festival ends. On Mahanavami, special offerings were made and yajna (fire rituals) were held. Worshippers prayed for peace, prosperity and the welfare of humanity. Temples and mandaps were decorated with colourful arches, gates and lights, and the air echoed with the beat of dhak drums, bells, kansor gongs and conch shells.

Devotees began arriving at the mandaps from early morning, and the crowds grew larger in the afternoon. Children came in new clothes, holding their parents’ hands. Temporary stalls outside the mandaps sold food and a variety of other goods. People of other faiths and communities also came to see the idols and join the festivities. The narrow lanes around several temples in Old Dhaka were packed with people.

On the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, leaders of various political parties and organisations, including the BNP, extended greetings to the Hindu community.

Durga Puja is the largest religious festival of Bangladesh’s Hindu community and an important part of the country’s cultural heritage. The festival also highlights the tradition of harmony and peaceful coexistence among people of different religions. Vijaya Dashami is a public holiday. In response to a long-standing demand from the Hindu community, the government this year extended the Durga Puja holiday to three days by executive order. Together with the weekly holiday on Friday and Saturday, everyone gets five consecutive days off, from 20 to 24 October.

Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private TV and radio channels are airing special programmes for the occasion, while the national dailies are publishing special features.

With the immersion of the idols, this year’s festivities will come to an end. Devotees will then wait for next year to welcome the Goddess back.