Accompanied by the rhythmic beats of dhak drums, the blowing of conch shells and sacred ulu-dhwani, the vibrant five-day festival of Durga Puja concluded on Wednesday afternoon with the tearful immersion of Goddess Durga idols into the sea at Cox’s Bazar.
Beginning at Laboni Point, thousands of Hindu devotees gathered alongside people of all faiths to bid a solemn farewell to the Mother Goddess. As priests chanted traditional mantras around 4:30 PM over 300 idols from across 324 mandaps in the district were carried into the ocean waves, blending moments of devotional emotion with grand celebration.
A pre-immersion ceremony was hosted on the beach by the District Puja Celebration Committee led by Acting President Uday Shankar Pal Mithu. State Minister for Land Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin attended as chief guest, reaffirming the government's commitment to protect religious freedom and uphold inclusive harmony across all communities.
Local officials, including Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner M. A. Mannan and Superintendent of Police A.N.M. Sajedur Rahman confirmed that multi-layered security measures involving police, armed forces and lifeguards ensured the sacred ritual passed smoothly without any untoward incidents.
Visitors and local residents remarked that Bijoya Dashami has grown beyond a single religious tradition with serving as a powerful symbol of brotherhood, spiritual coexistence and Bengali cultural heritage.
