Bengaluru soaks in Vijayadashami colours

Marking the end of the 10-day Durga pooja celebrations across the city, Bengaluru on Friday soaked itself in the colours of Vijayadashami.

Flocking the temples for poojas and blessings, several people exchanged ‘Banni’ (Shami) leaves and greeted each other. Special poojas and processions were held at various temples as part of the Dashami celebrations. Though most of them offered poojas to vehicles on Thursday, a few of them performed the rituals on Friday as well with many lining up their vehicles in their localities, anointing and decorating them.

The Circle Maramma temple in Malleswaram was the centre of attraction with many vehicles, both new and old, being lined up for the special poojas.

Similarly, the 10-day long Durga pooja organised in various parts of the city, predominantly by the people from eastern states, too came to an end.

Members of the Bengali and Odiya communities gathered in huge numbers at Halasuru Lake and took out a long procession. Women dressed in traditional sarees and taking part in the ‘Sindhur Khela’ was a major attraction.

The arrangements by the community volunteers were hailed by all and jamming session by a famous Bengali percussionist was also held near Halasuru Lake. Later, the idols of Durga worshipped at various pandals of the city were immersed in the lake.