Immersions of the idols of Goddess Durga and her children in the Ichhamati in Taki, North 24-Parganas, were held on Friday under the watchful eyes of the state police, administration, the BSF and their Bangladeshi counterparts BGB so that Covid-19 safety protocols were maintained.

As announced earlier by the civic administration, only eight persons on each boat of puja organisers were allowed to sail with the deities for immersion. No joyride on boats for tourists was allowed. Few people watched the immersions from the banks.

The BSF and the BGB monitored the proceedings on speed boats along the middle of the river, creating a line of control with ropes so as to ensure no boat from either side could sneak into the other’s territory.

The immersion began with the deities of Taki Rajbari (royal house). After the traditional farewell rituals by women, the deities was taken to the Rajbari ghat and immersed in the river with the support of police and civic volunteers.

Immersions that began with the idols of Rajbari at 1pm were completed by 4.30pm, maintaining the time schedule announced earlier to prevent overcrowding for a prolonged period.