Durga Puja ends

Five-day long Durga Puja, the greatest festival of the Hindu community, ended on Wednesday with the immersion of goddess Durga in the capital and elsewhere across the country.

The Hindu devotees with tearful eyes bade farewell to mother Durga and her children Laxmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh.

The deities were immersed in the Buriganga River in the capital while wishing for Durga's happy return next year.

On Wednesday, the devotees celebrated Bijoya Dashami, the last day of the festival, at some 28,000 Puja mandaps, including around 200 in the capital.

The “Bijoya” signifies giving up all demonic intentions such as lust, anger, envy and greed and establishing peace.

Witnesses said thousands of Hindu devotees – men, women and children-- joined a huge colourful “Bijoya Procession” with images of Durga and other deities in the capital.

The ceremonial procession was brought out from the Dhakeswari Mandir and it paraded the city streets leading to Swarighat and Wisegaht where the deities were immersed.

Shouldering the images of Durga, the devotees went into waist-deep water and immersed the deities.

While joining the Bijoya procession, many jubilant young devotees were seen singing and dancing in circle with the rhythm of popular Hindi music and bands.

Police and Rapid Action Battalion members escorted the procession.

According to Bishuddha Siddhanta Panjika, this year the goddess Durga arrived on an elephant and departed in a boat.

According to the Hindu religion, Durga’s arrival on an elephant signifies prosperity and happiness while her departure in a boat signifies flood, misery and good harvest.