Devotees bid an emotional farewell to Goddess Durga with tears, prayers, and the traditional Sindur Khela ceremony at Dhakeshwari National Temple today, as the ten-day Durga Puja celebrations culminated on Vijayadashami.
The festivities resonated with conch shells, drums, bells, and devotional chants throughout the morning.
The official Vijayadashami rituals began after 9am with the customary Dashami Puja, followed by Darpan and Ghata Visarjan ceremonies.
By noon, women devotees celebrated the iconic Sindur Khela, joyfully smearing vermilion on one another while chanting “Bolo Durga Mai Ki Jai” in praise of the Goddess.
Married women prayed for the long life and well-being of their husbands, as per traditional customs.
One newly married devotee said she prayed for the well-being of her spouse and family, marking her first Durga Puja with her husband.
Devotees embraced the festive atmosphere with songs, dances, and traditional offerings, celebrating both the triumph of Durga over evil and the blessings for their households.
According to the temple’s chief priest, Dharmadas Chattopadhyay, the Sindur Khela symbolizes women’s joy and devotion, as well as prayers for the welfare and longevity of their families.
The rituals involved offerings of betel leaves, fruits, and water lilies to the Goddess, with devotees offering anjali and prayers after the morning ceremonies.
Security personnel were actively deployed at the temple gates as visitors, including government officials, came to offer their respects.
The Bangladesh Puja Celebration Council announced that the grand procession and the final idol immersion would take place at 3pm, officially concluding this year’s Durga Puja.
This year, Dhaka saw 259 Durga Puja mandaps, seven more than last year, while the total number across the country reached 33,355, nearly a thousand more than the previous year. For safety reasons, the council advised that all idol immersions be completed before evening.
