The five-day Durga Puja, the greatest of all Hindu religious festivals, will end on Saturday with solemn immersion of the goddess Durga in the country, including the capital.

In the morning, devotees thronged the puja mandaps to celebrate Bijoya Dashami, the last day of the festival.

The beating of drums and cymbals, intricately designed idols of Durga and drifts of incense lent the mandaps across the country a festive air as devotees Thursday celebrated Maha Navami.

Each of the mandaps across the country has been adorned with beautiful idols. Skilled artisans and artists have crafted those and showcased the goddess in all her glory.

Devotees will recite the mantras and offer flowers to the goddess Durga (pushpanjali) and pray for her blessings.

Bijoya Dashami is the special ceremony of reaffirming peace and good relations among people.

Families visited each other to share sweetmeats. Married Hindu women put vermillion powder on each other's forehead on the occasion.

In the capital, thousands of people will throng the river Buriganga to observe the final phase of the festival—the immersion of the goddess Durga.

Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad joint general secretary Tapash Kumar Pal said devotees and visitors will be able to visit different puja mandaps on Friday evening to witness the Devi Durga.

He said Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and Mohanagar Sarbojonin Puja Udjapan Committee will bring out Bijoya procession from the Dhakeshwari Temple premises at 3pm on Saturday.

Shouldering the idol of the goddess Durga and parading different thoroughfares in the capital, devotees will reach the bank of the river Buriganga with the procession. Then they will go into waist-deep water into the river and immerse the idol of Devi Durga there.

Durga Puja, the annual Hindu festival also known as Sharadiya (autumnal) Durga Utsav, is the worship of "Shakti" [divine force] embodied in goddess Durga.

It symbolises the battle between good and evil where the dark forces eventually succumb to the divine.

ZA