The Final Morning of the Divine Visit
In Bengal, the tenth day of the Durga Puja festival—Vijaya Dashami, or simply Dashami—is a day filled with both joy and sorrow. After five days of grand worship, music, and devotion, the time arrives to bid farewell to Goddess Durga, who is believed to return to Mount Kailash, her celestial abode, along with her children—Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, and Ganesha.
In 2026, Dashami is marked on October 20.
The night of Maha Nabami marks the end of her victory over Mahishasura, the demon symbolizing ignorance and chaos. Dashami dawns as the moment of visarjan—immersion of the deity’s idol into rivers or water bodies—symbolizing the dissolution of the divine presence back into the eternal source of creation.
Scriptural Significance
The farewell of Goddess Durga is deeply symbolic and finds resonance in the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana, where the Goddess declares:
“Whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness prevails, I shall incarnate again and again to protect the world and restore harmony.”
(Devi Mahatmya, Chapter 11, Verse 54)
This verse affirms the cyclical nature of divine intervention—Durga’s annual return to Earth represents the eternal rhythm of creation, preservation, and renewal. Her arrival brings auspiciousness, and her departure signifies the continuity of dharma (righteous order) beyond her physical presence.
Devi Boron: The Daughter’s Farewell
In Bengal, Devi Boron (Bidding Farewell) is one of the most emotional and tender rituals of Dashami. Women of the household or community perform the ceremony, offering the Goddess betel leaves, sweets, rice grains, and sindur (vermilion). She is honored as a daughter visiting her parental home, and now lovingly sent back to her husband’s abode, Mount Kailash.
This act reflects the quintessential Bengali belief that Durga is not distant divinity but a beloved daughter—the embodiment of Shakti who blesses her devotees with prosperity and protection. The ceremony underscores the sanctity of family bonds, motherhood, and womanhood, symbolizing the universal truth of separation and reunion.
Sindur Khela: The Celebration of Womanhood and Blessings
The ritual of Sindur Khela follows Devi Boron. Married women apply vermilion on the forehead and cheeks of the Goddess and then on one another, praying for long life, happiness, and well-being of their families. This vibrant ritual, unique to Bengal, celebrates the power of feminine energy and the continuity of marital harmony.
The red vermilion, symbolic of Shakti and auspiciousness, reflects the Goddess’s strength and compassion. It also conveys that even in farewell, Durga leaves behind her blessings of fertility, prosperity, and protection against evil.
Visarjan: The Return to the Cosmic Source
As the idols are carried to rivers or lakes for immersion (Visarjan), chants of “Bolo Durga Mai ki Jai” and “Aasche bochor abar hobe” (“She will come again next year”) fill the air. This moment, though emotional, conveys deep spiritual symbolism. The clay idols, which were crafted from the earth, are returned to it, representing the eternal cycle of creation and dissolution, as described in the Bhagavad Gita:
“All beings are unmanifest in their beginning, manifest in their interim state, and unmanifest again when destroyed.”
(Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 28)
Through immersion, devotees realize that the Divine never truly departs—it only transforms form, reminding all that the Mother resides eternally within every soul and every element of nature.
Spiritual Meaning and Benefits
The rituals of Dashami are more than tradition—they are acts of spiritual awakening. The worship of Goddess Durga culminates not in loss but in enlightenment. The emotional farewell teaches detachment, the value of gratitude, and the promise of renewal.
Devotees believe that observing these rituals with faith brings:
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Peace and prosperity in family life
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Strength to overcome obstacles
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Protection from negative forces
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Spiritual cleansing and emotional balance
Dashami thus marks the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and compassion over cruelty—not just in the world outside but within the human heart.
The Eternal Promise of Return
As the evening settles and the idols dissolve into the water, a deep sense of peace prevails. The sound of drums fades, but the faith remains. Bengalis believe that Durga will return, as she always does, bringing with her the power of renewal, the promise of hope, and the warmth of divine love.
Dashami, therefore, is not an ending—it is a reminder of the eternal truth that the Mother is ever-present, in the rhythm of the universe and in the hearts of her children.