Bijoya Dashami at the Daw household marks the end of the festivities. The mood is somber and a little melancholy. The members of the family are all emotionally drained and they feel sad to bid farewell to the goddess who is created bit by bit in the very Thakur Dalan from where she is bid farewell from the day of Rathayatra. After the morning pujo, the home god is taken from in front of the goddess and taken back to the usual Thakur ghor.
The male members of the family take Nirmalya consisting of a lotus that is offered during Sondhipujo along with a coin that is given as an offering. After this they leave for the shop to take the blessings of the mother to their business place. The women folk have their own rituals. First the priests reads out the 'Subachani' that women folk need to listen to ensure that peace and prosperity is maintained in their homes. Then the lady who does the Samkalpa treats married women with all ingredients that are associated symbols of a married woman, followed by some prasada.
The male members of the family take Nirmalya consisting of a lotus that is offered during Sondhipujo along with a coin that is given as an offering. After this they leave for the shop to take the blessings of the mother to their business place. The women folk have their own rituals. First the priests reads out the 'Subachani' that women folk need to listen to ensure that peace and prosperity is maintained in their homes. Then the lady who does the Samkalpa treats married women with all ingredients that are associated symbols of a married woman, followed by some prasada.
The afternoon meals are followed by decorating the Thakur Dalan in a special design ('alpona'). The male members of the family then remove the extra decorations from the Goddess and puts her down from the Chowki and place her in the center of the Thakur Dalan so that the women folk that complete the Boron rituals. The women of the family dress in ornate Benrasi or Gorod saris and complete the ritual with all the necessary ingredients, which necessarily includes alta, sindoor, paan, and sweets. One by one the goddess and all her children and their pets are treated with all this by every female member of the family.
Then the married women apply vermilion by gracing and greeting each other. What the Daw family also does is that the women in the family who also want to have fun during the Bhashaan but cannot as they are aware of the responsibilities that come as a part of their name are given an opportunity to enjoy the event. The Dhakis play the beats as the women folk of all ages dance and have fun in the courtyard and it is a wonderful scene as women of all ages dressed ornately adorn the courtyard emitting color and life all around.
Then the married women apply vermilion by gracing and greeting each other. What the Daw family also does is that the women in the family who also want to have fun during the Bhashaan but cannot as they are aware of the responsibilities that come as a part of their name are given an opportunity to enjoy the event. The Dhakis play the beats as the women folk of all ages dance and have fun in the courtyard and it is a wonderful scene as women of all ages dressed ornately adorn the courtyard emitting color and life all around.
The goddess is then carried on the shoulder outside the house and taken around seven times and while this happens, guns are fired in honor of the Goddess. Earlier a bird, locally known as 'Nilkontho Pakhi' was released as a ritual. It was meant to reach the news of Ma Durga leaving again from her heavenly abode, to Lord Shiva. However, now with a ban from the Government on this act, this is not followed.
Similar to this, earlier the Goddess was carried to the Ghat for immersin y carriers, but this also has stopped owing to the unavailability of carriers, as has the ritual of taking the Goddess to the mid ganges balanced on two boats and carrying out the immersion. Now the goddess, placed on a truck is made to take a round from the nearby street corner as the women from the family follow her, teary eyed till they can. An elaborate procession then heads towards the Ganges for the final immersion.
Similar to this, earlier the Goddess was carried to the Ghat for immersin y carriers, but this also has stopped owing to the unavailability of carriers, as has the ritual of taking the Goddess to the mid ganges balanced on two boats and carrying out the immersion. Now the goddess, placed on a truck is made to take a round from the nearby street corner as the women from the family follow her, teary eyed till they can. An elaborate procession then heads towards the Ganges for the final immersion.
The immersion takes place at the Prasanna Kumar Ghat and the family members bid a final tearful farewell to the Goddess as she floats away in to the darkness. The male members then take a dip in the Ganges and fill a jug full of water that is brought back home. This water is then sprinkled as 'Shantijol' following which all members of the family eat 'Naru and Bhanger shorbot' and celebrate Bijoya. The young ones touch the feet of the elders and seek their blessings while the men embrace and exchange wishes.