On Maha Navami, the ninth day of Sharadiya Durga Puja, the festivities reached their peak with the completion of sacred rites, even as the notes of farewell to Goddess Durga began to resonate a day before immersion.
Despite morning rain on Wednesday, devotees thronged temples and pandals for the Sandhi Puja, which bridges Ashtami and Navami.
The puja began with the lighting of 108 clay lamps and the offering of 108 lotus flowers at the Goddess’s feet. From the morning, Dhakeshwari National Temple and other mandaps echoed with the beats of dhak, uludhwani, conch shells, and bells.
Chief Priest of Dhakeshwari National Temple, Dharmadas Chattopadhyay, explained that with Navami the puja attains completion, while Dashami is observed as the day of farewell. He added that Sandhi Puja, held during the last 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami, is central to this ritual cycle.
Navami also features the grand evening Maha Arati. Devotees offered anjali late in the morning, praying for the well-being of their families as the festival nears its close.
According to Hindu tradition, Mahalaya, Bodhan, and Sandhi Puja together constitute the essence of Durga Puja. Each day carries symbolic meaning—Shaptami is believed to absolve sins of seven lifetimes, Ashtami brings blessings of prosperity, and Navami completes the puja before Dashami when the Goddess is worshipped as Aparajita.
This year, the almanac notes the Goddess arrived on an elephant, signifying prosperity for the earth, and will depart on a palanquin—interpreted as a warning of disease or calamity.
The festival, deeply rooted in mythology, recalls Lord Rama’s autumnal invocation of Goddess Durga in the Treta Yuga before defeating Ravana to rescue Sita. Hence, the celebration is also known as Sharadiya Durga Puja.
This year, Dhaka alone is hosting 259 mandaps, seven more than last year, while nationwide the number has risen to 33,355—around a thousand higher than in 2023.
On Thursday, Vijayadashami will begin with the Dashami Bihit Puja and Darpan Bisarjan in the morning, followed by voluntary blood donation at noon. A grand victory procession is scheduled for 3 pm, culminating in immersion rituals.
Dhakeshwari National Temple’s advisory priest Pranab Chakraborty noted that Dashami ceremonies also include Sindoor Khela, offering sweets to the Goddess, processions, and the immersion of idols.
Vijayadashami symbolizes both joy and sorrow—the departure of the beloved Mother Goddess and the anticipation of her return next year. With the immersion of idols, this year’s Sharadiya Durga Puja will formally conclude.
