The Hindus will also celebrate Bijoya Dashami in the morning according to the lunar calendar.

"All Durga idols from the puja mandaps of the capital will be brought together in Palashi at 3:00pm. A colourful procession will parade through different areas of the city," Jayanta Sen Dipu, president of Mohanagar Sharbojoneen Puja Committee, told The Daily Star yesterday.

“Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) picked Waiz Ghat on the bank of river Buriganga as the place from where the idols will be immersed in the river," he added.

Thousands of Hindu devotees yesterday observed Mahanbami with great festivity at all puja mandaps in the city as elsewhere in the country.

Devi Durga was offered the Nabami Bhog of food and fruits which was later distributed among the devotees visiting the mandaps.

Bijoya Dashami is the special ceremony to reaffirm peace and good relations among people. Families visit each other to share sweets during the Dashami festivities. Married Hindu women put vermillion (sindur) on each other's forehead on the eve of Dashami.

The Hindus believe Dashami is the day when Goddess Durga accompanied by her children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh started for Kailash, her husband's abode.

Mahalaya, the first day of the festivities, is followed by a series of unique rituals on the days of Sashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Nabami and Dashami or Bijoya Dashami.

Festivities intensify on the days of Mahasaptami, Mahashtami and Mahanabami, culminating in Bijoya Dashami, which marks the end of Durga Puja.

Durga Puja, the greatest extravaganza of the Hindus, is the worship of 'shakti' or divine power symbolised by Devi Durga. The worship is a tribute to the fight between good and evil with the dark forces eventually succumbing to the divine.

President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday greeted the Hindu community on the occasion of Durga Puja through separate massages.

"Religious festivals widen liberalism in human beings and teach harmony and unity among all. I firmly believe the Durga festival will consolidate further the harmony and sense of unity among the people of the country," the president said in a statement.

Khaleda Zia in her statement referred to the essence of the Durga festival and called for promoting peace and welfare in the country.

"We must remember that all our achievements and successes are the achievements and successes of all," said the prime minister.

She also urged all, irrespective of religious beliefs, to work for the country unitedly.

Leaders of political, social, and cultural organisations, and members of the civil society yesterday visited Durga Puja mandaps and exchanged greetings with the Hindus.

DCC Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka, State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and Awami League leaders visited Dhakeswari National Temple last night, said the puja committee president.

Our correspondent from Narayanganj reports that Lutfozzaman Babar also visited different puja mandaps in the town including the mandaps in Alam Para, Uikil Para, Tan Bazar, Nandi Para, Deobhog and Kuri Para Loknat Mandir.