‘Sindur Khela’ marks farewell to Goddess Durga ending 10-day Puja festivities

The devotees of Goddess Durga have bid her farewell with love and tears in their eyes amid the sounds of drums, conch shells and brass cymbals.

The Dashami, or tenth day rituals for Durga Puja, kicked off with Bihit Puja after 9am at the Dhakeshwari National Temple.

Later, the Darpan Bisarjan and Ghot Bisarjan rituals were performed. Sindur Khela, a ritual during which married women play with vermillion, and other rituals started in the afternoon.

The devotees indulged in merriment to mark the festival. Women were seen dancing in groups.

The biggest festival for Bengali Hindus will end with the immersion of the idols in the evening. They will have to wait another year for the goddess to visit the Earth again.

Before the immersion of the idols, Hindu women took part in Sindur Khela in different puja pavilions. Through dances and songs, they said their goodbyes to the goddess mother.

Jayashree Pal, who recently got married, told bdnews24.com: “I got married just two months ago. This is the first time I am performing Puja with my husband.”

“I prayed to the goddess for the welfare of my husband. I also prayed for my family and everyone else.”

According to Hindu beliefs, the goddess leaves her husband’s celestial home to spend time at her father’s house on Earth with her children. After the immersion of her idols, she will return to Mount Kailash, the godly abode of her husband. Durga will visit the Earth again next autumn. Hence, there is an air of sadness to Dashami after days of festive celebration.

Dharmadash Chatterjee, the chief priest of Dhakeshwari Temple, told bdnews24.com, “according to the puja rituals, women enjoy Sindur Khela on Bijoya Dashami and pray for a longer life for their husbands. They also pray for the wellbeing of their families.”

On Dashami, the goddess is worshiped with several rituals and items like betel leaves, trays of lotus flowers and others. Around 11am, priests and devotees offered Anjali (obeisance with palmfuls of water) after ending puja formalities.

Following the Anjali, devotees start enjoying Sindur Khela, a ritual for married women. Husbands put vermillion on the hair partings of their wives. Women pray to Goddess Durga for the welfare of their husbands and families.

Security forces were active at the temple's entrance in the afternoon. Around 12pm, Press Secretary, Shafiq Alam, visited the Dhakeshwari temple with his wife.

He exchanged Puja greetings to everyone and said, “This time, the government was alert to ensure that the Puja was held smoothly across the country. Hindu community is revelling in the joy of Puja."

Amalendu Biswas came from Kalabagan to visit a Puja pavilion with his wife.

He told bdnews24.com, “On Dashami, the goddess mother leaves us for her abode in Kailash, Hence, it’s a sad day for us. At the same time, this is the day the goddess defeats Mahishasur and wins. So, today is Shuvo Bijoya. We, the devotees, mark the day with different celebrations. I have enjoyed this Puja a lot.”

According to Hindu beliefs, the ten-armed Goddess Durga visits the Earth on the day of Mahalaya in the form of a “daughter”. She is bade farewell for a year through the immersion of idols. The Durga Puja festival is celebrated on the five days between her arrival and departure - from Sasthi to Dashami.

Dhakeshwari Temple authorities said a Shobhajatra or procession is scheduled for 3pm and the Durga Puja festival will end with immersion of idols.

Durga Puja is being celebrated at 259 pavilions in Dhaka, seven more than last year, and in 33,355 sites across the country -- nearly a thousand more than in 2024.

In consideration of security issues, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad advised immersing the idols before the late evening.