Sindur Khela, sweets mark the end of three-day Durga Puja

Kolkata: With 'Mahanavami' and 'Vijayadashmi' falling on the same day, a sense of gloom descended among revellers with goddess Durga leaving her maternal abode.

Since Thursday morning, devotees thronged the beautifully decorated Puja pandals to have the last glimpse of goddess Durga, marking the end of the three-day festival.

Earlier in the day, devotees gathered at community Pujas to offer prayers for the Mahanavami puja by chanting mantras.

In the household Pujas, women rejoiced by smearing vermilion (Sindur Khela) on each other's face, preceded by bidding farewell and offering sweets and prayers to the Goddess.

Various household Pujas and local communities took the idols for immersion on the banks of river Hooghly after performing rituals.

"Since morning near about 220 Durga idols have been immersed at various ghats. Mostly household Pujas and small communities Pujas have taken part in the immersion ceremony today," a police officer said.

The officer added that the big community Pujas would take part in the immersion ceremony on Sunday, as immersion of Durga idols has been prohibited on Friday and Saturday due to the ceremony of Muharram.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has wished the people on the occasion of Dussehra through a Facebook post.