The golden sands of Laboni Point at Cox’s Bazar beach transformed into a vibrant reunion of diverse faiths and communities on Wednesday, for the idol immersion of Durga Puja – the largest religious festival of the Hindu community.
While Hindu devotees gathered to bid farewell to “Maa Durga” by immersing her idols in the ocean waters, tens of thousands of people from Muslim, Buddhist, and Christian backgrounds joined the gathering to partake in the celebrations, alongside hundreds of thousands of holidaymaking tourists.
The ocean shore on Bijoya Dashami afternoon became a grand secular celebration, turning the country’s largest immersion ceremony into an extraordinary congregation of hundreds of thousands of people.
Festive procession at Laboni Point
Organised by the District Puja Celebration Council, the day’s proceedings commenced at 2:30 pm with cultural performances followed by greeting speeches.
From 3pm onwards, processions of idols began arriving at the beach immersion stage from various mandaps, as joyous youths arrived in truck convoys playing music, splashing colours, and celebrating along the coastline.
Following the speeches, at around 5pm, the idols were solemnly immersed one by one into the salty sea water, creating an emotional atmosphere marked by laughter, festive cheer, and tears of devotion.
Emotional farewell to Devi Durga
The bittersweet farewell evoked deep emotions amongst attendees, as some wept while others celebrated the departure of Devi Durga.
Tears filled the eyes of Ranibala Das from the Goldeghir Par area of Cox’s Bazar town, who expressed that she could not bear the departure of Durga mother and would now have to wait an entire year for her return.
Visitors were equally captivated by the spectacle, including Gias Uddin and Suraiya Khanam, a visiting couple from Mirpur in Dhaka, who noted that they were mesmerised by the Durga Puja arrangement and had never witnessed such a grand event in their lives.
Messages of communal unity
During the ceremony, administrative officials and leaders from political, social, and cultural organisations delivered speeches highlighting the long-standing tradition of communal harmony in Cox’s Bazar district.
Speakers emphasised that the festive enthusiasm surrounding Durga Puja in Cox’s Bazar is unique and unmatched anywhere else in the country.
The function was presided over by Uday Shankar Paul Mithu, president of the District Puja Celebration Council. Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, state minister for land and Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs, attended the event as the chief guest.
Other prominent speakers at the event included Shahjahan Chowdhury, member of parliament for the Cox’s Bazar-04 (Ukhia-Teknaf) constituency and president of district BNP; Lutfur Rahman Kajol, member of parliament for the Cox’s Bazar-03 (Sadar-Ramu-Eidgaon) constituency and central fishery affairs secretary of BNP; Advocate Shamim Ara Shopna, member of parliament for the reserved seat and general secretary of district BNP; Md Abdul Mannan, deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar district; Sajedul Islam, superintendent of police; Nishad Angela, superintendent of police (Tourist Police); and Dolen Dhar, trustee of the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust.
Widespread celebrations across mandaps
Dolen Dhar, trustee of the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust, informed that more than 350 idols were immersed at Cox’s Bazar sea beach this year.
The idols were brought to the beach from Cox’s Bazar town, various upazilas across the district, and the neighbouring hill districts of Bandarban and Naikhongchhari.
According to data from the District Puja Celebration Council, a total of 324 puja mandaps were set up across Cox’s Bazar district this year, representing an increase of six mandaps compared to the previous year.
Of these, 154 mandaps organised idol worship (pratima puja) and 170 held vessel worship (ghat puja).
Across the district’s nine upazilas and municipalities, Chakaria upazila hosted the highest number with 71 mandaps, followed by Kutubdia upazila with 44, Ramu with 37, Cox’s Bazar Sadar upazila with 31, Eidgaon with 29, Maheshkhali upazila with 28, Cox’s Bazar municipality with 28, Chakaria municipality with 25, Pekua with 9, Ukhiya with 9, Maheshkhali municipality with 6, and Teknaf with 6 mandaps.
The list of mandaps in Ukhiya upazila also included a mandap set up inside a Rohingya refugee camp. In terms of mandap categories, Cox’s Bazar Sadar upazila, Cox’s Bazar municipality, and Eidgaon combined had 88 mandaps, consisting of 46 idol worships and 42 ghat pujas.
In Chakaria upazila, 41 mandaps held idol worship and 30 held ghat puja out of its 71 mandaps. Furthermore, Kutubdia’s 44 mandaps comprised 14 idol worships and 30 ghat pujas, Ramu’s 37 mandaps included 23 idol worships and 14 ghat pujas, and Teknaf’s 6 mandaps had 5 idol worships and 1 ghat puja.
All nine mandaps in Ukhiya upazila, including the one in the Rohingya refugee camp, organised idol worship.
To manage the massive turnout at Laboni Point and safeguard attendees, the local administration and law enforcement agencies put in place comprehensive security measures and special preparations to ensure a peaceful and orderly event.
