Guwahati, Oct 21: As the chants of devotion give way to tearful goodbyes, Guwahati’s riverfront is taking on a different hue this Bijoy Dashami.
The five days of celebration are drawing to a close, and devotees are gathering at the city’s ghats to bid farewell to Goddess Durga, carrying with them the memories of festivities and the hope of welcoming her back next year.
At Lachit Ghat, devotees and members of puja committees are flocking the venue with idols, setting the stage for a steady stream of immersions through the day and into the night.
More than 270 puja committees immersed their idols at the ghat last year, according to reports, and locals inform that the number is expected to touch around 300 this year.
With the ceremonies likely to continue until midnight, lighting arrangements have been made to facilitate the proceedings.
Hydra cranes have also been readied to handle the larger idols, while personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to ensure safety.
“We have deployed four teams comprising around 30 personnel across Lachit Ghat, Pandu Ghat, Sankat Mochan Ghat and Palasbari, covering the nearby immersion sites as well. Our teams will remain deployed round the clock for the two days of immersion,” an NDRF official said.
Among those who arrived at Lachit Ghat to bid farewell to the Goddess was Guwahati Mayor Mrigen Sarania, who brought the idol of his puja committee from Paltan Bazar.
“Yes, this is my own puja in Paltan Bazar, and we have been celebrating Durga Puja for over 100 years. Now we have come here to immerse our idol,” Sarania said.
Video Credit: Kangkan Bordoloi
Across Guwahati, the ghats have become gathering points for devotees seeking one last glimpse of Maa Durga before she departs for another year.
The mood is a blend of celebration and sadness - the joy of the festivities lingers, even as the final prayers signal their end.
At Pandu Ghat, more than 150 idols are reportedly expected to be immersed, drawing devotees for the concluding rituals. Amid the activity, the arrangements have offered some reassurance to those gathered, even as the emotional weight of the farewell remains.
“The arrangements here have been made nicely, and every year the arrangements are good. It is a little saddening that after days of celebrating, we have gathered here to immerse Goddess Durga, but there is no other way. We will wait for her next year,” a local resident at Pandu Ghat said.
But while devotees gather to offer their final prayers, another group remains on alert, focused not on the farewell but on the responsibility of keeping everyone safe.
For Ankit Phukan, a member of the Fire and Emergency Services team, the festive season has meant staying prepared to respond whenever needed, even if that leaves little time to experience the celebrations himself.
“I couldn’t watch the puja; whatever I watched was in between duty. We have to stay ready whenever we are needed. Sometimes we do feel bad as we don’t get to go home, but what can we do? It’s our duty,” Phukan said.
As idols are immersed in the waters of the Brahmaputra, Guwahati’s farewell to Maa Durga unfolds through prayers, rituals and promises of reunion.