Indian expats mark Dussehra in UAE while engaging in community traditions

Dubai: The tenth day of Durga Puja or Dashami was celebrated as Dusshera by Indian expats in the UAE today.

A socio-cultural festival. Dusshera signifies the victory of good over evil.

In the UAE, the Indian diaspora marked this Dussehra in a muted way, while they engaged in community traditions while maintaining social distance and other COVID-19 protocols.

One of the rituals involves bidding farewell to the deity Durga, which is a big ceremony for the Bengali community. Several places in Dubai and other emirates organised the nine-day Durga Puja, which culminated in Dashami.

Married woman of Bengal follow a the colourful tradition of Sindhur Khela which marks the return of deity Durga to her home. Women take the sindhur as a blessing from the deity and smear each other with the vermilion mark.