Durga Puja, the largest festival of the Hindu community, culminated in Bijoya Dashami yesterday with the solemn immersion of Goddess Durga’s idols in Chittagong.
Thousands of people marched alongside spectacular truck in procession that carried idols, and thronged the Patenga Beach to bid farewell to Goddess Durga on the occasion of Dashami, the last day of Durga Puja.
The parting ceremony was filled with unbridled dancing, beating of drums and chanting of the Goddess Durga's name. The dancing continued until the immersion of the idols, which the devotees carried with a heavy hearts and eyesfull of tears.
Both the young and the elderly joined hands to slowly immerse the idols in the water at the climax of the festival in the evening.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Shyamol Kumar Palit, president of District Puja Observance Committee said:“This year, a total of 255 puja mandaps or marquees were built across the port city.
“We are satisfied with the security measures taken by the law enforcing agencies on the occasion of Durga Puja.”
Adding that Chittagong usually sees the highest number of immersions in this country, he continued: “At least 200 idols were immersed in the Patenga Beach, which is the main immersion centre.
“Meanwhile, the rest were immersed in different areas such as Kalurghat, Southkattoli, Pathor Ghata Gongabari, Enayet Bazar Goal Para Pond and Parky Char Sea Beach.”
Nearly one lakh Hindu devotees visited the Patenga beach to bid farewell to the goddess this year, said Shyamol.
The immersion process began from noon with idols of Durga and her four children- Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesha, being carried in trucks, accompanied by Hindu devotees of all ages, to the immersion points.
Anupam Biswas, a devotee who came to bid adieu to goddess at the Patenga Sea Beach, said: “Durga Puja is the worship of ‘Shakti’ or divine power embodied in her. It symbolises the battle between good and evil, where dark forces eventually are defeatedbydivine forces.
“It saddens me that mother Durga is leaving us for a year, after days of fanfare and merriment. I hope that she will come back next year with more joy and peace.”
Like Anupam, it was a bitter-sweet experience for all Hindu devotees, who came to bid farewell to the Goddess Durga after days of enthusiasm, excitement and joy.
The Chittagong Metropolitan Police tightened security in different immersion points across the city, including Patenga Beach.