Jharkhand/East Singhbhum: On Friday, the day after Vijayadashami, devotees in the district bid farewell to the idol of Goddess Durga with tearful eyes and devotion.
Women organized the traditional Sindoor Khela, praying for the Goddess's return next year. The idol was duly immersed amid the sound of drums, fireworks, and cheers.
Even a day after Vijayadashami, the city witnessed a wave of devotion and emotion associated with Durga Puja. Numerous puja organizers immersed Goddess Durga in various rivers and ponds on Friday.
On Thursday, members of the Ashiana Anantara Society immersed the idol of Goddess Durga in Dimna Lake, following traditional rituals. Before the immersion, women participated in the Sindoor Khela ceremony, applying vermillion to each other and praying for happiness, good fortune, and prosperity for their families. Following this, all the devotees carried the idol of the Mother Goddess from the society to Dimna Lake, chanting, "Come soon next year."
As the idol of the Mother Goddess arrived at the immersion site amid the sound of drums and fireworks, the atmosphere was filled with devotion and emotion. Many devotees' eyes became moist during the immersion. After the Mother Goddess's departure, everyone collectively partook of the prasad in the society premises and expressed hope for her return next year.
Organizing committee president Vikas Singh explained that bidding farewell to a mother and daughter on a Thursday is considered inauspicious, so the immersion took place on Friday, as per tradition. He added that with the blessings of Goddess Durga, the event becomes more grand every year.
A large number of devotees attended the immersion ceremony, including Nisha Singh, Sunanda Kumar, Poonam Singh, Renu Singh, Pratibha Mishra, Pooja Singh, Deepa Singh, Chanchal Kumari, Seema Prasad, Motisi Paul, Anju Gupta, Shobha Rai, Sona Singh, Gayatri Mahato, and hundreds more.
