Durga Puja ends with Devi immersion

Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community, ended today with the immersion of idols of goddess Durga and her children on the fifth day of celebration.

The ritual of Bijoya Dashami follows the journey of immersion through festive processions on the day. However, as all other religious festivities went on with modified rules this year due to Covid-19 pandemic, the journey of immersion did not go through the traditional festive processions with large crowds.

Local representatives, political leaders of Awami League and its activists stepped forward to make this year's festival as festive and joyous as the previous years. Due to the breakout of COVID-19 virus, this year Durga festival was very limited. The people of the lower and lower-middle class are facing financial constraints as the economy is still recovering from the effects of country-wide lockdown.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina allotted Taka 1.5 crore this year for a successful celebration.  Awami League leaders, activists and local representative continued to support people during this crisis as they did during the two Eids this year. Local administration was also extra-cautious this year as the government doesn't want to risk massive breakout of the virus. Local representatives have distributed government allocated funds for mandirs along with self-funded dresses and clothes.

To avoid the risk of transmission, maximum of 10 people at a time were allowed on a truck taking the idols for immersion. Processions from different areas in the capital ended at the Waiz Ghat on the banks of Buriganga River in the evening. Tearful devotees bid farewell to Durga and her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh while praying for their return next year.

Female devotees applied vermilion at the feet of Durga at mandaps and temples across the city, as part of the traditional 'Shidur Khela'. Women also applied vermilion on each other wishing for prosperity in their lives.

Nirmal Kumar Chatterjee, general secretary of the Bangladesh Puja Celebration Committee, said, "Instructions have been followed during immersion which was devoid of the usual processions of Bijoya Dashami. The concerned mandap and temple authorities have performed immersion on their own initiative in compliance with hygiene rules."

According to the latest information provided by the Bangladesh Puja Celebration Committee, Durga Puja was held at 30,223 mandaps across the country this year, compared to 31,397 mandaps in 2019.