KHULNA, Oct 25, 2023 (BSS) - Durga Puja, the five-day long greatest religious

festival of the Bangalee Hindu community, ended in the city and nine upazilas
of the district through immersion of the idols with due religious fervor and
solemnity on Tuesday.

The Hindu community celebrated Durga Puja this year amid huge 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.

Last night, 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 1,036 puja mandaps were erected this time in the city and
district and the government distributed around 495 tonnes of rice among the
mandap authorities to assist the Hindu community people for 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, general secretary of city unit Puja Udjapon Parishad
Proshanto Kumar 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 20 through Bodhan (enlightenment) and
the Hindu community completed the celebrations through immersion of the idols
yesterday at all puja mandaps which were tastefully decorated and colorfully
illuminated everywhere in the city and district.