A bittersweet atmosphere has settled over Durga Puja mandaps across Bangladesh as Hindu devotees prepare to bid farewell to Goddess Durga on Wednesday, marking Vijaya Dashami and the conclusion of the country’s largest Hindu religious festival.

The six-day celebration will come to an end with the immersion of Durga idols in rivers and other designated bodies of water. For devotees, the occasion combines religious devotion with the sadness of farewell, as the goddess is symbolically sent back to her celestial abode.

The sound of traditional drums and cymbals, illuminated evening rituals and prayers filled temples across the country on Tuesday, the occasion of Maha Navami, the ninth day of the festival.

Maha Navami Celebrations Light Up Temples

Maha Navami rituals were performed at temples across Bangladesh on Tuesday. The prescribed worship began in the morning, with the Navami puja scheduled to be completed by 9:57am.

Following the rituals, devotees participated in fire ceremonies, floral offerings, prasad distribution and evening worship.

One of the day’s main attractions was the traditional arati competition, in which devotees performed ceremonial offerings of light before the goddess. The performances illuminated temples throughout the evening and night, while priests recited sacred verses and devotees joined in devotional songs and prayers.

An arati competition was also held at the Durga Puja mandap in the Dhakeshwari National Temple complex in Dhaka.

In Old Dhaka, neighbourhoods including Shankharibazar, Tantibazar and Laxmibazar were filled with worshippers visiting elaborately decorated mandaps. Families, friends and devotees gathered before the idols to offer prayers and admire the decorations, even as the approaching farewell brought a sense of melancholy to the celebrations.

Idol Immersion to Begin After Morning Rituals

On Wednesday, the prescribed Vijaya Dashami worship is scheduled to be completed by 9:57am, followed by the darpan bisarjan ritual, a symbolic farewell to the goddess.

Idol immersion will then take place across the country at locally arranged times, accompanied by farewell processions where organised.

After the immersion ceremonies, devotees will receive shantijal, or holy water associated with peace and blessings.

In Dhaka, the central Vijaya procession is scheduled to leave the Dhakeshwari National Temple complex at 3pm.

Most of the capital’s 258 puja mandaps are expected to gather at Palashi intersection before the procession begins. Accompanied by traditional music, chants and religious observances, the procession will proceed towards Wiseghat near Sadarghat, where the idols will be immersed in the Buriganga River.

For security reasons, the government has instructed organisers to complete idol immersion before evening.

Government Holiday and Special Programmes

Wednesday has been declared a public holiday on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and satellite television channels are scheduled to broadcast special programmes marking the festival. Newspapers are also publishing special editions and articles to commemorate the occasion.

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is scheduled to host a reception for members of the Hindu community at Bangabhaban on Wednesday morning to mark Durga Puja and Vijaya Dashami.

A Farewell Filled With Devotion and Emotion

Across Old Dhaka and other parts of the country, Maha Navami brought together the familiar sights and sounds of Durga Puja: traditional drumming, illuminated temples, elaborate idols and devotees offering prayers.

In the narrow streets of Shankharibazar, successive mandaps displayed the goddess in richly decorated settings. Some worshippers visited with their families, bringing children to experience the festivities, while others explored the celebrations with friends.

As the festival draws to a close, the atmosphere is shifting from celebration to farewell. For devotees, Vijaya Dashami is not only the end of the festivities but also an occasion to pray for peace, prosperity and the well-being of their families and communities.

With the final rituals and idol immersions, Bangladesh’s six-day celebration of Goddess Durga will conclude, leaving behind memories of worship, cultural traditions and communal gatherings.