Immersion of idols today

Hindu devotees were both happy and sad at the same time yesterday -- the mother Goddess had been with them for the last few days and now she was set to leave the world for another year.

According to the holy scripture, Ramayan, lord Rama defeated Ravan with the blessings of the Goddess after fighting for nine days.  The celebration of Bijoya Dashami thus signifies the victory of good over evil on the 10th day of Aswin month of Bangla calendar.

Dashami is the day when, Hindus believe, the Goddess accompanied by her children set off for Kailash, her husband's abode.

According to the lunar schedule, Navami puja ended at 7:33am, followed by Dashami that lasted until 9:57am yesterday.

“I've prayed to the mother Durga to destroy all evil forces and establish peace in Bangladesh and across the whole world,” said Gobinda Das who went to a temple at Wari in Dhaka with his daughter Sunita.

Sunita said she had sought courage and strength from the Goddess.

Even after Dashami puja ended in the morning, devotees flocked to see idols at different puja mandaps in the city, including those at Dhakeshwari Temple, Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University, Ramna Kali Mandir, Siddheswari Kali Mandir, and at temples in Tanti Bazar, Shankhari Bazar and Bangla Bazar.

Players of Kolkata Mohammedan take a selfie at a Puja Mandap in Lalkhan Bazar area of Chittagong yesterday. The Kolkata football team is here to play at Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

Before the departure of the Goddess, married women of all ages take part in a ritual called Sindur Khela when they put vermillion on each other.

Today, Bijoya Dashami processions will be brought out with idols of the deity and her children -- Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh. The festivities will end through the immersion of the idols into rivers or other water bodies.  

A procession from Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka will begin at 3:00pm and end at Waisghat in old town after parading through different city streets. Devotees will then immerse the idols in the Buriganga river.

“She has been with us for the last few days. She will leave us here for one year. It's a strange feeling I can't express,” said Diba Rani at Dhakeswari.