Meghalaya bade a colourful farewell to Goddess Durga on Wednesday as devotees across the state immersed idols in rivers and designated water bodies on Bijoya Dashami, bringing four days of Durga Puja festivities to a peaceful close. In the state capital, Shillong, immersion processions made their way to the designated ghat at Polo, where the banks of the Umkhrah river took on a festive look as organisers arrived with decorated vehicles, traditional drums and groups of devotees, many of whom joined hands to lower the idols of the goddess and her four children into the water. Security personnel were deployed at riverbanks and rescue arrangements were in place, with the ceremonies passing off without incident.
This year’s celebrations carried special significance for Shillong, with the Rilbong Durga Puja Committee marking its centenary and the Pynthor Umkhrah and Lumparing committees celebrating their platinum jubilees. The Central Puja Committee (CPC), Meghalaya, had announced 237 pujas across the state, of which East Khasi Hills accounted for 77, comprising 69 community pujas and eight residential celebrations, while Garo Hills remained the largest centre of festivities with 142 pujas. Illuminated pandals, elaborately crafted idols and cultural programmes drew crowds each evening, and married women played with sindur at pandals on Vijaya Dashami, a cherished ritual of the occasion.
The message of communal harmony had been reinforced ahead of the festivities when the CPC organised its 33rd All Faith-All Religion Sadbhavana Sammelan at the Rilbong Durga Puja Mandapam, where religious leaders and community representatives underlined the importance of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. The Shillong Traffic Police enforced sector-wise restrictions and no-parking zones during the puja days, with additional measures for Wednesday’s immersion procession.
Across the Garo Hills, five-day celebrations concluded with 137 committees from the region’s five districts immersing idols in various water bodies. Tura, which hosted the highest number of pandals in the region at 31, saw the final immersions at the Babupara Bisarjan Ghat. The Dashami procession set out around 1 pm from the Police Parade Ground in the Tura Market area, winding through major parts of the town as devotees lined the route, singing and dancing alongside vehicles carrying the idols, with the final immersions wrapping up shortly after dark.
“Durga Puja in Tura is an absolute emotion. No matter where we are, the yearning to return home at this time cannot be put into words. It brings entire families together to celebrate with people they have known their whole lives,” said local resident Rahul Gupta.
CPC Garo Hills secretary Arup Nag credited the district administration, police and civic authorities for the smooth conduct of the festival, thanking West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Chelani, ADC Dolrich BG Momin, Tura police station and Dobasipara outpost, as well as the PHE, PWD, Tura Municipal Board, MeECL, Tura Traffic Branch and the SDRF. CPC member Sushanta Biswas said the town’s Dashami procession was distinguished by a sense of bonhomie that brought people together irrespective of their backgrounds.
With the idols immersed, devotees across Meghalaya bid the goddess farewell until her return next year. In Tura, the festivities will continue later this month with the annual dhak competition at the Tura Parade Ground, where performers from the top five pandals will compete for the title of best puja group, followed by a musical night.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/10/23/meghalaya-bids-adieu-to-goddess-durga-celebrations-end-peacefully/
Category: MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2026-10-23 06:06:00
