Dhaka: Tens of thousands of Hindus in colourful attires took to the streets on Friday beating drums and chanting mantras as five days of revelry and celebration ended this afternoon with immersion of Goddess Durga in rivers and water bodies across the country.

In the capital Dhaka, jubilant devotees joined colourful truck processions carrying idols of Durga amid fanfare towards the Buriganga River for immersion when children, the young and the elderly joined hands to slowly put the idols into the water at the climax of the festival, the biggest of the Bengali-speaking followers of Hindu faith.

Durga puja is the worship of ‘Shakti’ or divine power embodied in Goddess Durga symbolizing the battle between good and evil where the dark forces eventually succumb to the divine forces.

Hindus across the country celebrated on Thursday the Bijoya Dashami amid festivity and enthusiasm by visiting their relatives’ homes to share sweetmeats when married Hindu women put ‘sindoor’ (vermilion) on each other’s forehead on the occasion.

This year, Durga Puja was celebrated at over 28,000 puja mandaps across the country, including over 200 in Dhaka city.

The festival began on October 19 with ‘Bodhan’, ‘Amontran’ and ‘Adhibas’ of Goddess Durga and ‘Ghatasthapan’ on ‘Shasthi Tithi’.

Mahasaptami Puja was offered on Tuesday while Mahastami and Kumari Puja on Wednesday.

Dhaka Mohanagar Puja Udjapan Committee said alongside the Buriganga river, hundreds of Hindu devotees today thronged the Turag, the Shitalakkhya and the Balu rivers in the capital for emersion of Goddess Durga.

Carrying the idol of Goddess Durga on their shoulder, devotees went waist-deep water into the rivers, ponds and water bodies and immersed the mother deity.