Bijoya Dashami (Durga Visarjan) 2027: Jersey City, New Jersey

Bijoya Dashami (বিজয়া দশমী) is the last day of Durga Puja, the tenth day of the bright fortnight of Ashvina. After four days at her parents' home, Ma Durga, the beloved daughter, returns to her husband Shiva on Kailash. The day is joyful and tearful at once: the Mother has won her victory, and now she must leave.

In the morning the Dashami puja is offered and the Mother is given leave. Married women come for Debi Boron, the farewell: they offer sweets, paan and betel nut, touch vermilion to her forehead and feet, and wipe her face as a mother would before a daughter's long journey. Then comes Sindur Khela, when the women smear vermilion on one another, praying for long married lives and happy homes.

A mirror is placed before the Mother and her reflection is immersed in water, the darpan visarjan. Then the images are carried out in procession with dhak drums, conch shells and cries of "Asche bochor abar hobe!" ("It will happen again next year!"), and immersed in the river or a pond. In some homes Aparajita, the unconquered Devi, is also worshipped on this day.

When the family comes home, the Bijoya greetings begin: the young touch the feet of their elders and receive blessings, friends and equals embrace in kolakuli, and everyone shares sweets, narkel naru, nimki and more. The visits and greetings go on for days.