KHULNA, Oct 5, 2022 (BSS) - The five-day celebration of Durga Puja, the greatest religious festivity of the Hindu community, ended in the city and nine upazilas of the district through immersion of the idols with due religious fervor and solemnity.

The Hindu community celebrated Durga Puja this time amid enthusiasm and festivities through performing religious rituals at a record number of puja mandaps in the city and district with the participation of thousands of devotees.
 
This year, the idols were taken to the river Bhairab, Rupsha, Kazibacha, Kopotakha, ponds, canals and other water bodies for immersion with colourful procession, dancing and singing `kirton’.
 
Earlier,  hundreds of female devotees thronged puja mandaps on the Bijoya Dashami to have last look of this year's goddess Durga and seek her blessings for the nation and mankind by putting 'sindur' (vermilion) and offering sweets to the Mother.

A record number of 1,030 puja mandaps were erected this time in the city and district and the government distributed around 585.5 tonnes of rice among mandap authorities to assist the Hindu community people in celebrating the festival.

The law enforcers, who were on duty round the clock over the last five days, were seen guarding Shuvo Bijoya Dashami processions for immersion of Devi Durga and other idols since the afternoon.

Talking to BSS, president and general secretary of city unit Puja udjapon parisad  Shyamol Halder and Proshanto Kundu thanked and hailed the concerned local authorities for ensuring complete security and uninterrupted power supply during the five-day celebrations of Durga Puja.

They expressed deep gratitude to the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for assisting them in celebrating Durga Puja with due religious fervour, enthusiasm and festivity.

The religious festival began on October 1 through Bodhan (enlightenment) and the Hindu community completed celebrations through immersion of the idols today at all puja mandaps which were tastefully decorated and colorfully illuminated everywhere in the city and district.