Taki immersion connects two Bengals across the Ichamati River:Durga Puja’s cross-border tradition brings Indian and Bangladeshi communities together

Every year on Vijaya Dashami, as Bengal bids farewell to Goddess Durga, the Ichamati River becomes more than an international boundary. At Taki in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, boats carrying Durga idols gather near the India-Bangladesh border, where people on both sides exchange greetings, wave at one another, and celebrate a shared cultural heritage. Taki’s festive atmosphere draws thousands of visitors Across the river lies Satkhira district in Bangladesh. Although the two countries are separated by an international boundary, their Bengali-speaking communities share many cultural traditions, including the devotion surrounding Durga Puja. The annual immersion near Taki offers a rare public glimpse of that common heritage. A river that connects two Bengals Taki, a riverside town on the Ichamati, is known for its festive atmosphere during Durga Puja. Illuminated streets, decorated pandals, music and crowds mark the celebrations. Yet the town’s most distinctive moment arrives on the final day, when the goddess’s idols are taken towards the river for immersion. Shared greetings reflect a common Bengali heritage On the Indian side, boats carrying idols move towards designated areas near the international boundary. Boats from Bangladesh also gather on the opposite side. Separated by the river and security arrangements, people wave, exchange greetings and call out familiar words of farewell and reunion. “Aschche bochor abar hobe”, the Bengali expression meaning “It will happen again next year”—captures the spirit of the occasion. The words express the emotional farewell associated with Durga Puja while reflecting the hope of meeting again when the festival returns. The ritual is not simply about the immersion of idols. It also reflects the cultural links that have endured despite the political division of Bengal and the creation of an international border between India and Bangladesh. A tradition shaped by history The immersion tradition at Taki has a long history, with local accounts tracing its roots back several centuries. The sequence of immersion has traditionally included the idol from Taki Purber Jamindar Bari, also known as the East Rajbari, followed by idols brought by local clubs and household pujas. Over time, the gathering on the Ichamati developed into a major attraction, drawing residents, visitors and photographers eager to witness the unusual sight of two neighbouring countries celebrating the same festival across a river. A river tradition shaped by centuries However, the ceremony has also been shaped by changing border-security arrangements. India began fencing sections of its border with Bangladesh in 1989, and security along the Ichamati was strengthened over the years. Although the river itself was not fenced in the same manner as many land-border stretches, surveillance increased, with security personnel and patrol vessels monitoring the area. The earlier practice of relatively unrestricted movement and interaction across the river gradually diminished. By the early 2000s, a day of relaxed border movement associated with immersion had largely disappeared. Security and celebration share the river The Ichamati immersion now takes place under security arrangements designed to maintain order along the international boundary. Personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF), along with other relevant agencies, monitor the river and the movement of boats. Arrangements may vary depending on prevailing security requirements. Border security reshaped the immersion celebrations These measures reflect the challenge of managing a large public gathering in a sensitive border area. The festival brings crowds to the riverfront, while the presence of boats from both countries requires careful coordination and monitoring. For spectators, however, the sight of the two sides gathering across the water remains the defining image of the occasion. The river serves simultaneously as a boundary that must be protected and a meeting point for communities connected by language, customs and shared memories. Beyond borders, a shared cultural identity The history of Taki’s immersion has not been without interruptions. Security concerns and changing administrative arrangements have affected the scale and nature of cross-border interaction over the years. Reports from earlier periods have also documented efforts to organise gatherings around the immersion, although the arrangements have changed over time. Yet the cultural significance of the event remains. Durga Puja is celebrated by Bengali communities on both sides of the border, with rituals, music, food and family traditions that reflect a common cultural inheritance. Shared culture transcends political and geographical boundaries At Taki, this shared identity becomes visible on the river. People may stand under different national flags and follow different border regulations, but the sight of the goddess’s idol approaching the water evokes familiar emotions on both sides. The gathering should not be mistaken for unrestricted cross-border movement or a formal joint ceremony without confirming the arrangements for a particular year. Rather, it is a powerful expression of cultural proximity that persists despite political and geographical separation. The goddess departs, the connection remains As the idols are immersed and the boats begin to disperse, the crowds gradually leave the riverfront. The festival’s immediate spectacle comes to an end, but the memory of the encounter remains with those who witnessed it. For Taki and Satkhira, the Ichamati is both a dividing line and a shared landscape. Its waters mark an international boundary, yet every autumn they also provide a setting for a familiar Bengali farewell.