To the beat of the dhak, idols were loaded onto boats one after the other. Crowds gathered around the scene. Some had tears in their eyes, others, prayers on their lips.
At the moment of farewell, devotees bowed to Goddess Durga for the last time.
Many stood with folded hands as the air reverberated with the chant: “Bolo Durga Maa ki, joy.”
This was the scene on Wednesday afternoon on the banks of the Buriganga at Wiseghat in Old Dhaka, where thousands of followers of the Sanatan faith gathered around the ghat to bid farewell to the goddess.
Idols were immersed under tight security. After six days of worship and festivities, the goddess was returning to Kailash, leaving devotees waiting for her return next autumn.
The rituals of the final day, known as Bijoya Doshomi, mark the end of this year’s Sharadiya Durgotsav.
From the morning, devi boron, sindoor khela and darpan bisarjan were held at the puja mandaps, where devotees gathered to bid farewell to the goddess.
At around 3pm, the central Bijoya procession set out from Dhakeshwari National Temple. Passing through Lalbagh and Nayabazar, it reached Wiseghat.
At Palashi intersection, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Joint Commissioner (Operations) Md Shahidullah told journalists that more than 16,000 police personnel were deployed at various locations across Dhaka in connection with the immersion.
Idol immersion took place at 33 points across the city, with the largest number of idols immersed in the Wiseghat area.
On reaching Wiseghat, the idols were brought down to the beat of the dhak, loaded onto boats and immersed in the Buriganga as people of all ages crowded around the ghat to watch.
Anando Kumar Das, who came from Dhakeshwari National Temple, said, “After a year of waiting, the goddess is returning to Kailash today. Though there are tears in my eyes, I feel great contentment inside. Ma will come again.”
Basanti Sen, who came from Lalbagh with family members to watch the immersion, said, “Every year, this moment of Bijoya Doshomi makes the heart heavy. I prayed to Ma for just one thing – the homes of everyone in the country to be filled with peace. Ma is departing today with everyone’s love.”
Security was tight along the road from the front of Jagannath University, near Bahadur Shah Park, to Wiseghat while the arrangements remained orderly despite the crowds.
No vehicles other than pickup trucks carrying idols were seen on the road while under strictly monitored traffic arrangement, the trucks were directed towards the ghat along a designated route.
This year, three immersion ghats were set up at Wiseghat to ease overcrowding at any single point.
The DMP made special arrangements for security and traffic control during the immersion of idols from 258 mandaps across the city.
Plainclothes police and members of various intelligence agencies were also deployed at the ghat and surrounding areas, alongside uniformed police.
DMP Joint Commissioner (Crime) Md Faruk Hossain told journalists at Wiseghat that river police and Coast Guard trawlers were patrolling the Buriganga. A team of Fire Service divers was on standby to respond to emergencies, while puja committee volunteers also assisted with arrangements.
Idols from mandaps in Shankharibazar, Tantibazar, Laxmibazar and Sutrapur were also immersed at Wiseghat.
For Mitu Rani, a resident of Old Dhaka, memories of watching the immersion at Wiseghat go back many years.
“When I stand at the ghat, my heart somehow feels empty. Still, drawn by tradition and love, I return here every year, waiting for the new year,” she said.
As night fell, Wiseghat gradually emptied. The empty trucks left along the designated road, while silence began returning to the mandaps of Old Dhaka after several days of festivities.
The idols dissolved in the waters of the Buriganga, leaving devotees with the sorrow of farewell, although the pain is eclipsed by prayers and the hope of welcoming the goddess again next autumn.
