Sombre mood prevails in Tripura after people bid adieu to Goddess Durga

As the week-long Durga Puja came to a conclusion with Mahadashami, a mood of sadness prevailed across Tripura.

Mahadashami formally starts with special pujas, yagna and maha arti, followed by darpan bisarjan (ritually bidding adieu to Goddess Durga and her four children-Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesha; although idol-immersion started in the afternoon).

Sindoor Khela (Smearing of Vermilion) marks the day when Bengali women in traditional dress smear each other with red vermilion wishing long life for their husband, and peace and prosperity for their families.

"Sindoor Khela is so that the vermilion which we put on our forehead and also in the feet of Maa Durga so that with her blessings it remains safe and secure forever in our head," said Debolina Chakraborty, a devotee.

Students also seek blessings from Goddess Durga.

"I think that we have to take some blessing from Goddess Durga before appearing for the board exam. Moreover, I want to appear for the medical entrance. We have to try our best, but need god's blessings for success," said Nilaki Banik, a student.

Following this, immersion ceremony begins. Long processions with drums and trumpets are taken out and finally reach to a river bank where idols are immersed.

Then the goddess and her four children are given farewell who will be sent to 'Kailash' once again.

"Every year we pray to Goddess Durga for fulfilling our wish and also enjoy Sindoor Khela (smearing vermilion) so that with the blessings of the goddess the coming year is a happy one for us, said a devotee Lucky Nath Datta.

"Right in the early morning we collect flowers and other ingredients to farewell goddess Durga with a heavy heart but with the hope that next year she will again come and make us happy," he added.

Dashain is a celebration of Goddess Durga's victory over demon Mahisasur symbolizing the victory of good over evil.