Amidst the beat of dhak drums, ululations, Sindur Khela, and the excitement of thousands of devotees, the resonance of farewell filled the air. Overpowering the colors of joy, a shade of melancholy was visible on the faces of the devotees. On one hand was the excitement to capture the final moments of the festival, and on the other was the emotion of bidding farewell to Mother Durga. In such an emotionally charged and festive atmosphere, the idol of Goddess Durga was immersed in the waters of the Bay of Bengal at Cox's Bazar beach.

On Wednesday (October 21) afternoon, hundreds of thousands of devotees gathered at Laboni Point on Cox's Bazar beach. A large number of tourists also crowded the sandy shore to witness the spectacle. Devotees marched toward the ocean with the idols to the beat of drums and ululations. With the immersion, the grand festivities of the Bengali Hindu community's primary religious festival, Sharadiya Durga Puja, came to a formal close.

From the morning, preparations for the farewell were underway across the puja mandaps. After welcoming the Goddess, devotees offered prayer at her feet with vermilion for the final time. They then smeared vermilion on each other's foreheads and cheeks, exchanging Bijoya greetings. Through music, dance, and laughter, they shared the last moments of the festival. However, beneath the jubilation lay the sorrow of departure. As they bade farewell to their beloved Goddess, sadness surfaced on the faces of many devotees. Their prayers held a single expectation—that Mother Durga would return to Earth again next year, bringing back these joyful days.