Farewell notes echo as Durga Puja nears Bijoya Dashami
Photo: Shamim-us-Salehin/ Agamir Somoy
Following the completion of the Nabami Puja and the evening Aarti, farewell notes echoed across the Durga Puja festival on Wednesday.
On Bijoya Dashami, Goddess Durga will depart the mortal earth and return to Kailash. On the Mahanabami, Hindu devotees worshiped Goddess Durga through Bihit Puja at Dhaka’s Siddheshwari Kali Mandap; however, as the moment of immersion drew closer, notes of farewell resounded amidst the joy. The Nabami Bihit Puja was performed using Neelkantha flowers and Yajna.
According to Hindu rituals, Durga Utsab comprises three phases: Mahalaya, Bodhon, and Sandhi Puja. Offering puja on Saptami absolves the sins of seven lifetimes. On Ashtami, one attains “Ashtamangal” (eight auspicious blessings). Following the “Purna Puja” on Nabami, the goddess becomes “Aparajita” (invincible) on Dashami.
On Dashami, there are additional elements alongside Bihit Puja, such as Sindoor Khela, offering sweets to the goddess, processions, and idol immersion.
While it is time to bid farewell to the Goddess Durga, it also marks the beginning of the wait for her to return in the next year. This year’s Sharadiya Durga Utsab will draw to a close on Dashami with the immersion of the idol.
Followers of the Sanatan religion believe that the ten-armed Goddess Durga descends to earth to slay demons and establish peace. Spending a few days at her father’s home with her children, she then returns to the celestial abode.
