Five-day long Durga Puja finally comes to an end today through the celebration of Bijoya Dashami after performing the sacred rituals of Sashthi, Saptami, Ashtami and Navami.
Bijoya Dashami will end with the idols of Mother Goddess and her four children– Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesha–taken in processions for immersion in river or sea.
As the twilight approaches, devotees irrespective of men, women and children join a long procession to the riverbanks or sea to immerse the images of Durga with her children.
Most of the Hindu mythology talks about the struggle between good and evil and the ultimate triumph of good over evil power. According to the myth, on the day of Ashwin Shukla dashami, Ram returned to his kingdom “Ayodhya” with wife Sita and brother Laxman after having defeated Ravan in a great battle that lasted for 10 days. Since then the victory of Ram is celebrated as “Bijoya Dashami.” Ram killed Ravan with the blessings of Devi Durga.
Dashami is also the celebration of victory of Goddess Durga over Asuras. On the tenth day of Ashwin shukla paksha (new moon), the evil Mahishasur was defeated and killed by Durga. Devi Durga represents two forms of female energy–one mild and protective and the other fierce and destructive.
In the capital city, thousands of Hindu devotees will join the traditional immersion procession today. A procession will be brought out from Dhakeshwari Temple at 3:00pm today and end at Waisghat in old town after parading different city streets.
Around one hundred idols are expected to be immersed in the river Buriganga. Idols from different puja temples of the city will be gathered at Palashi Intersection and then carried to the Buriganga, said Mahanagar Puja Udjapan Committee.
Meanwhile, the Mahanabami Puja was celebrated across the country yesterday. “Nabami Bhog” comprising food and fruits were offered to Devi Durga, which were later distributed among devotees.
In the city, people from all walks of life visited different puja places, including Dhakeshwari Temple, Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University, Ramna Kali Mandir, Siddheswari Kali Mandir, and the temples of Tanti Bazar, Shankhari Bazar and Bangla Bazar.
Home Minister advocate Sahara Khatun, State Minister for Health Mujibur Rahman Fakir, Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, former water resource minister Abdur Razzak, adviser to the Prime Minister HT Imam, BNP Secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain, leaders of other political parties, diplomats and other top level government officials visited different puja temples in the city yesterday.
Distribution of Prasad and Anjali offerings were arranged at the puja mandaps. Fairs were also held on the premises of the puja pavilions.
Gulshan Sarbajanin Puja Udjapan Parishad organised the Durga puja at the Banani Society Ground, which is the most attractive puja mandap in the city. They also arranged different cultural programmes in the evening.
Mahanagar Sarbojaneen Puja Committee will arrange voluntary blood donation programme today at 11:00am on Dhakeswari National Temple premises.
Different political, social and cultural organisations, some eminent personalities including Speaker of the House advocate Abdul Hamid greeted the countrymen on the occasion of Bijoya Dashami.
