After five days of worship and religious rituals, Goddess Durga was bid farewell through the immersion of her idols, marking the end of Sharadiya Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community. On Wednesday (October 21), thousands of devotees gathered along the Buriganga River at Wiseghat in the capital to witness the immersion of Durga idols.

From noon, idols were brought to Wiseghat in processions from various temples and neighbourhoods across Dhaka, accompanied by the beats of traditional drums, cymbals and bells. They were then carried by boat to the middle of the river for immersion. The farewell was marked by a mixture of celebration and sorrow.

Some devotees had tears in their eyes, while others chanted hymns in praise of the goddess. Many offered their final prayers for her blessings, while some sprinkled river water on themselves and their family members.

‘It Hurts So Much to See Mother Leave’
Priyasmita, a ninth-grade student who came to watch the immersion with her father from Mohakhali, said her sadness began as soon as the auspicious moment of Dashami arrived.

“It hurts so much. Mother is leaving. These past few days were joyful because Mother was with us,” she said.

She prayed that Goddess Durga would drive away all evil forces from the country, bring peace and ensure the well-being of everyone.

Reema Rani, who came from Ganaktuli in Hazaribagh, Old Dhaka, said the past few days had been filled with joy. The presence of Goddess Durga had brought a festive atmosphere all around, but her departure left devotees overwhelmed with sadness. They would now have to wait another year for the goddess to return.

She said her special prayer this year was for peace in the country and happiness and prosperity in everyone’s life.

Sri Rajib Kundu, joint secretary of the Dhanmondi Thana Puja Celebration Committee, said they had gathered to bid farewell to the goddess with heavy hearts.

He said Goddess Durga had descended to earth to destroy evil and bring welfare to humanity. Their prayers included the hope for a secular Bangladesh where no evil force could rise again.

He added that injustice and crime should come to an end, the country should be governed properly and peacefully in the future, and the well-being of all people should be ensured.

Women Participate in Dashami Sindoor Rituals
On the morning of Dashami, women took part in one of the principal rituals at temples and puja pavilions. They offered sindoor at the feet of Goddess Durga as a mark of reverence for her power. Afterwards, they applied sindoor to one another, praying for happiness, prosperity and well-being.

Multi-Layered Security Arrangements for Idol Immersion
Strict security measures were put in place across the capital to ensure the smooth conduct of the idol immersion. Several layers of security were maintained until the proceedings were completed.

Specialised police unit SWAT, members of the Detective Branch (DB) and several hundred personnel of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) were deployed along the procession routes. Members of the Ansar Guard Battalion, Fire Service diving teams and other agencies were also on duty.

Faruk Hossain, joint commissioner (Crime) of the DMP, said adequate security measures had been taken at Wiseghat and surrounding areas. Uniformed and plainclothes police personnel, along with members of various intelligence agencies, were deployed. River Police, the Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies were also working alongside the police.

He said that while only one immersion site had been designated last year, three sites had been arranged this year. One-way traffic arrangements had also been introduced to allow trucks carrying idols to enter through designated routes and leave easily after the immersion.

Adequate traffic management measures were also put in place to ensure the smooth completion of the immersion ceremony.