Bijoya Dashami, the final day of the six-day Sharadiya Durga Puja, is being celebrated across Bangladesh on Wednesday with religious fervour, traditional rituals and communal harmony.
The celebrations are drawing to a close with the daylong observance of Sindur Khela, followed by the evening immersion (Bisarjan) of Goddess Durga’s idols in nearby rivers, ponds and other water bodies.
Marking the Goddess’s departure from her earthly abode, devotees are exchanging Bijoya greetings. Temples across the country, including Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ramna Kali Mandir, Siddheshwari Kalimandir, and Ramakrishna Mission and Math, are witnessing large gatherings of worshippers.
In Faridpur, morning worship was conducted across various puja mandaps to mark the formal completion of Dashami Puja rituals.
During the afternoon, Goddess Durga will be welcomed with offerings of sweets and betel leaves with betel nuts (pan-supari), followed by women participating in Sindoor Khela (vermilion game) and Aarti, prior to the final idol immersion that marks the end of the festival.
Meanwhile, in Dinajpur, the final day of Maha Dashami and Bijoya Dashami was observed with a mixture of joy and sorrow as devotees prepared to bid farewell to the deity across various mandaps from Wednesday morning.
Religious ceremonies for the departure of Goddess Durga commenced around 8:30am, featuring spontaneous participation by female devotees in festive surroundings.
Women offered vermilion at the feet of Goddess Durga, exchanged it among themselves, and engaged in Sindoor Khela to pray for happiness, peace, and prosperity, as well as the wellbeing of their husbands and families.
Following five days of worship and rituals, tears were seen in the eyes of many devotees as they prepared to bid farewell, holding firm belief that Goddess Durga will return to Earth after a year’s wait next autumn.
According to religious customs and beliefs, Goddess Durga arrived this year riding on a horse and is departing on a boat.
As the formalities of Bijoya Dashami conclude, Sanatan devotees in Dinajpur prayed for evil forces to be banished from the world and for the establishment of peace and harmony, preparing to wait another year with expectations of rejoicing once again.
