PRAYAGRAJ: The grand Durga Puja Mahotsav in Prayagraj came to a close on Thursday, marked by elaborate rituals, the vibrant yet poignant Sindoor Khela, and the solemn immersion of the idols.
What began five days ago as a joyous invocation of Goddess Durga culminated in heartfelt farewells, with the Bengali community praying for her swift return next year.
Sacred Rituals on the Final Day
Across more than a dozen pandals—including Ashok Nagar, Darbhanga, Shahganj, Tagore Town, Mirapur, Shastrinagar, George Town, City Barwari, Bai ka Bagh, Katghar, Chandpur Salori, and Katra—priests led the concluding ceremonies steeped in Bengali tradition.
The day began with Darpan Visarjan (Mirror Immersion). A large vessel filled with Ganga water was placed before the goddess, and devotees gazed at her reflection.
This symbolic act signifies transferring the divine essence of the idol into water, marking the goddess’s departure from her temporary earthly abode.
Once the prana (life force) was ritually withdrawn, the atmosphere shifted from reverence to bittersweet celebration.
Sindoor Khela: The Ritual of Vermillion and Sisterhood
One of the most iconic traditions of Bengali Durga Puja, Sindoor Khela, is followed. Married women, clad in red-bordered sarees and adorned in traditional jewelry, apply vermillion powder on each other’s foreheads and faces, exchange embraces, and offer prayers for their husbands’ long lives and family prosperity.
Historically, this ritual is both a prayer and a celebration—a gesture that unites women across generations in shared devotion and festivity.
Though joyful in appearance, the sindoor play also carries a quiet undertone of parting, as devotees prepare to bid farewell to the goddess.
Immersion Processions: Joy Turns to Tears
From early afternoon, processions began as idols were carefully placed on decorated vehicles and taken through the streets to ponds and water bodies for immersion.
The journey was filled with chants of “Bolo Durga Mai Ki Jai” and songs, but as the idols approached the water, joy gave way to emotion.
At the Andawa pond, devotees folded their hands, eyes moist, and prayed for the goddess’s swift return in the coming year. Idol immersions continued until late in the evening, with thousands gathering to witness the poignant moment of farewell.
The Sanctity of Ganga Water
Following the immersions, many puja committees made their way to the Sangam, Ramghat, and Dashashwamedh Ghat, collecting sacred Ganga water.
This water was sprinkled in homes, symbolizing purification and the extension of divine blessings into domestic life.
Amit Niyogi, senior vice-president of the Ashok Nagar Durga Puja Committee, noted that water from local ponds was not suitable for ritual use.
Hence, devotees relied on the sanctity of the Ganga, bringing back its holy water for achaman (ritual sipping) and purification ceremonies at home.
Tradition Beyond Rituals
Durga Puja is not merely a festival—it is a cultural heartbeat. From the invocation of the goddess on Mahashasthi to her farewell on Vijayadashami, the rituals embody the eternal cycle of arrival, worship, celebration, and departure.
The mirror immersion reflects the goddess’s transcendence, Sindoor Khela celebrates the strength and joy of womanhood, and immersion rituals remind devotees of the impermanence of life and the promise of renewal.
Even after the idols dissolve in water, the spirit of the goddess endures—in every home, in every prayer, and in every heart that awaits her next descent. Until she returns, her devotees carry forward her blessings of strength, unity, and hope.
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