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Published : 02 Oct 2025, 02:30 PM
The mirth and merriment brought by the annual arrival of Annapurna, or Goddess Durga, in the temples and puja pavilions across the country, nears its end with Hindu devotees s bidding adieu to the goddess with teary eyes on Dashami, or the tenth day.
They have been soliciting the goddess for the welfare of all with the sounds of drums, conch shells and brass cymbals reverberating on Thursday.
The Dashami rituals kicked off with Bihit Puja after 9am at the Dhakeshwari National Temple. Later, Darpan Bisarjan and Ghot Bisarjan were performed. Sindoor Khela (women playing with vermillion) and other rituals started in the afternoon.
The biggest festival for Bengali Hindus will end with the immersion of the idols in the evening. They will have to wait for a year to urge the goddess to visit the Earth again.
The day of Bijoya Dashami brings both joy and sorrow for the devotees.
In Dakeshwari Temple, a devotee called Rajrupa Chakrabarty said: “This year the puja went well. Today, I feel happy on one hand, and on the other, there’s a tinge of sorrow to bid the mother goddess farewell. We pray for the welfare of everyone.”
According to the Hindu calendar, the goddess has arrived on an elephant this year, seen as a symbol of plentiful harvests. But her departure on a palanquin is regarded as an omen of epidemic.
Dharmadash Chatterjee, the head priest at Dhakeshwari, told bdnews24.com: “The goddess becomes Aparajita or undefeated on Dashami after ‘Purnopuja’ on Nabami.”
"The Mahishasur (buffalo demon) has been defeated and killed in the war with the goddess mother and she became the winner. That’s why the day is called Shuvo Bijoya.”
Bijoya Dashami is marked with special prayers in the temples and pavilions across the country. The rituals end with Darpan Bisarjan or immersion of the goddess’s reflection.
Married women perform the ritual of Sindur Khela or playing with vermillion to pray for the welfare of their husbands and families.
Dhakeshwari Temple authorities said a Shobhajatra or procession will be brought out at 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.
The festival officially began on Sept 28, with Sasthi Puja. The rituals are now coming to an end after five days of celebration.
In consideration of security issues, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad advised immersing the idols before the late evening.
