Durga Pooja culminates with immersion of idols in Lucknow

Lucknow: Devotees thronged marquees and community pujas in Lucknow on Saturday to bid farewell to Goddess Durga on "Vijaya Dashami", the last day of the festival.

With anticipation of the homecoming of the deity next year, married women decked in the ritualistic red-and-white saris marked the event with the customary "Sindoor Khela" or smearing each other and the idols with red vermillion to prepare Goddess Durga and her four children -- Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartik -- for their return to their heavenly abode on Mount Kailash.

The drum players, busy playing the signature tune of 'Visarjan' (ritual of immersion), made way for the idols to be carried into water.

Also read: PHOTOS: Bengali women celebrate Sindur Khela on Vijaya Dashami

Young and old devotees joined hands to complete the final rituals before immersing the goddess at the end of the five day festivity. Some teenagers were busy clicking selfies with the goddess smeared with vermilion and flowers.

Young and old devotees joined hands to complete the final rituals before immersing the goddess at the end of the five day festivity. Some teenagers were busy clicking selfies with the goddess smeared with vermilion and flowers.

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