Tens of thousands of Hindus in colorful attires took to the streets Friday beating drums and chanting mantras as five days of revelry and celebration ended in the day with immersion of Devi Durga in rivers and water bodies across the country.
In the capital Dhaka, jubilant devotees joined colorful truck processions carrying idols of Durga amid fanfare towards the Buriganga River for immersion when children, the young and the elderly joined hands to slowly put the idols into the water at the climax of the festival, the biggest of the Bengali-speaking followers of Hindu faith. Reports BSS.
Durga puja is the worship of ‘Shakti’ or divine power embodied in Devi Durga symbolizing the battle between good and evil where the dark forces eventually succumb to the divine forces.
Hindus across the country celebrated Friday the Bijoya Dashami amid festivity and enthusiasm by visiting their relatives’ homes to share sweetmeats when married Hindu women put “sindoor” (vermilion) on each other’s forehead on the occasion.
The five-day Durga Puja festival began on Monday with the incarnation (Bodhon) of Goddess Durga on the day of Maha Shashti.
Maha Ashtami, Kumari Puja and Sandhi Puja were performed on October 17 while Maha Nabami Puja was celebrated on Thursday.
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad sources said as many as 31,272 permanent and temporary mandaps were erected in the country, including 234 in the capital city this year.
Dhaka Mohanagar Puja Udjapan Committee said alongside the Buriganga river, hundreds of Hindu devotees thronged the Turag, the Shitalakkhya and the Balu rivers in the capital for immersion of Goddess Durga.
Carrying the idol of Goddess Durga on their shoulder, devotees went waist-deep water into the rivers, ponds and water bodies and immersed the mother deity.
AH
