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In pictures: Stockholm to Singapore — a glimpse of ‘probashi’ Puja celebrations

Durga Pujas festivities in the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, Thailand and Sweden were also a celebration of ‘Bangaliana’

My Kolkata Web Desk Published 26.10.23, 06:06 PM
Luton Durga Puja, is organised every year by the Bengali Hindu Cultural Association of the UK, at Dallow Road Community Centre. Since its inception in 1996, this pujo has flourished. This year, they got a brand-new ‘protima’ shipped from Kumartuli. Vibrant Dhamail folk songs resonate for all five days in this Puja rooted in Bangladeshi Hindu Bengali heritage.The Puja also brings together a community united by shared history, faith, resilience and spirit of those who fled Bangladesh during challenging times, setting up a hub of culture and devotion in the heart of the UK. Embracing tradition, the second and third generations now helm the celebrations
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Luton Durga Puja, is organised every year by the Bengali Hindu Cultural Association of the UK, at Dallow Road Community Centre. Since its inception in 1996, this pujo has flourished. This year, they got a brand-new ‘protima’ shipped from Kumartuli. Vibrant Dhamail folk songs resonate for all five days in this Puja rooted in Bangladeshi Hindu Bengali heritage.The Puja also brings together a community united by shared history, faith, resilience and spirit of those who fled Bangladesh during challenging times, setting up a hub of culture and devotion in the heart of the UK. Embracing tradition, the second and third generations now helm the celebrations

Nilanjana Paul
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Proyas is a ‘Sarbojanin’ Durga Puja held in Chipperfield Village Hall, Kings Langley. This year the Durga Puja was marked by a series of shows and events like a fashion walk, Bollywood medley, as well as street food pop-ups and a handicraft bazaar
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Proyas is a ‘Sarbojanin’ Durga Puja held in Chipperfield Village Hall, Kings Langley. This year the Durga Puja was marked by a series of shows and events like a fashion walk, Bollywood medley, as well as street food pop-ups and a handicraft bazaar

My Kolkata
Ealing’s London Sharad Utsav has been celebrated for 14 years. This year, the four days of Durga Puja celebration included both cultural and religious events. With a footfall of over 10,000 visitors, they have now expanded their roster of events to other cultural and community events throughout the year including Folk Music and Arts Festivals, Cricket and Football Leagues, and Art Exhibitions. In partnership with LSU, the parent organisation Bengal Heritage Foundation (BHF) runs social and cultural events that promote Bengali heritage in the UK
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Ealing’s London Sharad Utsav has been celebrated for 14 years. This year, the four days of Durga Puja celebration included both cultural and religious events. With a footfall of over 10,000 visitors, they have now expanded their roster of events to other cultural and community events throughout the year including Folk Music and Arts Festivals, Cricket and Football Leagues, and Art Exhibitions. In partnership with LSU, the parent organisation Bengal Heritage Foundation (BHF) runs social and cultural events that promote Bengali heritage in the UK

Gargi Roy
Kali Bari Durga Puja is nestled in Mississauga in Canada’s Ontario. This sacred space, established over 35 years ago, offers a haven for worship and cultural celebration. From authentic rituals, cultural programmes to a serene ambience and more, this puja has it all, including a delectable ‘bhog’ that is served on all days of ‘pujo. With the dedicated leadership of Jaidev Sarkar, chairman of Toronto Kalibari, this place is frequented by many devotees
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Kali Bari Durga Puja is nestled in Mississauga in Canada’s Ontario. This sacred space, established over 35 years ago, offers a haven for worship and cultural celebration. From authentic rituals, cultural programmes to a serene ambience and more, this puja has it all, including a delectable ‘bhog’ that is served on all days of ‘pujo. With the dedicated leadership of Jaidev Sarkar, chairman of Toronto Kalibari, this place is frequented by many devotees

Kamini Singh
Ananda Mandir is a Bengali Hindu temple and community centre that was established in 1995 in Cedar Grove Lane, New Jersey, which also hosts an annual Durgotsav. The Durga Puja celebrations this year began from October 15 and involved various religious and cultural activities. This year, for the Bijoya Sammilani on October 29, renowned singer from Bangladesh, Adity Mohsin, will be performing at the Tagore Hall
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Ananda Mandir is a Bengali Hindu temple and community centre that was established in 1995 in Cedar Grove Lane, New Jersey, which also hosts an annual Durgotsav. The Durga Puja celebrations this year began from October 15 and involved various religious and cultural activities. This year, for the Bijoya Sammilani on October 29, renowned singer from Bangladesh, Adity Mohsin, will be performing at the Tagore Hall

My Kolkata
The Durga Puja of Kallol this year began on October 20. The three-day celebrations witnessed electrifying performances by Shaan (in picture), Joy Sarkar and Lopamudra Mitra, Prithibi, Nirmalya Roy and Sandeep Bhattacharjee. Important Durga Puja events like ‘bhog’ distribution, arati, ‘Pushpanjali’, ‘sindur khela’ were all part of the festivities along with food, entertainment and adda
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The Durga Puja of Kallol this year began on October 20. The three-day celebrations witnessed electrifying performances by Shaan (in picture), Joy Sarkar and Lopamudra Mitra, Prithibi, Nirmalya Roy and Sandeep Bhattacharjee. Important Durga Puja events like ‘bhog’ distribution, arati, ‘Pushpanjali’, ‘sindur khela’ were all part of the festivities along with food, entertainment and adda

Piu Mazumdar
Bongobashi Socio Cultural Association’s Durga Puja is organised in New Jersey’s Somerset. This was the second year of the association’s puja and was on October 14-15. There was a special performance by Iman Chakraborty along with several other events
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Bongobashi Socio Cultural Association’s Durga Puja is organised in New Jersey’s Somerset. This was the second year of the association’s puja and was on October 14-15. There was a special performance by Iman Chakraborty along with several other events

Piu Mazumdar
Glimpses from Durga Puja at Ramkrishna Mission, Singapore. Every day of Puja, there is a ‘paath’ and songs at the RKM complex. Interestingly, there's no idol of Durga at this Puja. A photo of the goddess is worshipped every year
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Glimpses from Durga Puja at Ramkrishna Mission, Singapore. Every day of Puja, there is a ‘paath’ and songs at the RKM complex. Interestingly, there's no idol of Durga at this Puja. A photo of the goddess is worshipped every year

My Kolkata
The oldest ‘sarbojanin’ Durga Puja in Singapore is organised by the Bengali Association of Singapore (BAS). Among the many events and rituals, there is a small in-house tradition for ‘bhog nivedan’. All the ladies who make and present the ‘bhog’ to the goddess wear matching saris for the occasion
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The oldest ‘sarbojanin’ Durga Puja in Singapore is organised by the Bengali Association of Singapore (BAS). Among the many events and rituals, there is a small in-house tradition for ‘bhog nivedan’. All the ladies who make and present the ‘bhog’ to the goddess wear matching saris for the occasion

My Kolkata
Bharti, the Bengali Association of Thailand has been celebrating a Durga Puja for almost 30 years. Held this year at the India Thai Chamber of Commerce in Sathorn, Bangkok, the puja follows the same timings and ‘tithi’ as India, guided by a priest who travels from Kolkata every year. Interestingly, for the five days of Puja there is a Bengali feast prepared by a chef who also travels from Kolkata. Bharti members — adults and children alike — also put up cultural performances
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Bharti, the Bengali Association of Thailand has been celebrating a Durga Puja for almost 30 years. Held this year at the India Thai Chamber of Commerce in Sathorn, Bangkok, the puja follows the same timings and ‘tithi’ as India, guided by a priest who travels from Kolkata every year. Interestingly, for the five days of Puja there is a Bengali feast prepared by a chef who also travels from Kolkata. Bharti members — adults and children alike — also put up cultural performances

Sreemoyi Datta Kar
Stockholm Bangiya Sanatan Samaj, celebrated their 35th year of Durga Puja this year. The association organised a three-day long celebration on Saptami, Ashtami and Navami, eventually performing the ‘darpan bisharjan’ after the Navami puja, once the Dashami ‘tithi’ started
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Stockholm Bangiya Sanatan Samaj, celebrated their 35th year of Durga Puja this year. The association organised a three-day long celebration on Saptami, Ashtami and Navami, eventually performing the ‘darpan bisharjan’ after the Navami puja, once the Dashami ‘tithi’ started

Sulagna Dasgupta
Bangaliana Multicultural Christchurch has been celebrating Durga Puja since 2021. The Durga idol, which was transported from Kuamrtuli took 78 days to reach New Zealand’s garden city of Christchurch.This year, the celebrations were held on October 20 and 21 at HeiHei Community Hall, and featured several cultural programmes and performances. A Bengali fare of pulao, ‘chholar dal’, ‘luchi’, along with ‘mishti’ like ‘ rosogolla’, ‘sandesh’, ‘payesh’ and jalebi featured on the festive menu
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Bangaliana Multicultural Christchurch has been celebrating Durga Puja since 2021. The Durga idol, which was transported from Kuamrtuli took 78 days to reach New Zealand’s garden city of Christchurch.This year, the celebrations were held on October 20 and 21 at HeiHei Community Hall, and featured several cultural programmes and performances. A Bengali fare of pulao, ‘chholar dal’, ‘luchi’, along with ‘mishti’ like ‘ rosogolla’, ‘sandesh’, ‘payesh’ and jalebi featured on the festive menu

My Kolkata
Over 200 families come together every year to celebrate the 40-year-old Lagos Bongiyo Parishad Durga Puja in Nigeria. This year, a new idol was brought from Kolkata’s Kumartuli along with other important items needed for the rituals. Working around school and office schedules, the Bengalis in Lagos enthusiastically take part in the festivities for five days
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Over 200 families come together every year to celebrate the 40-year-old Lagos Bongiyo Parishad Durga Puja in Nigeria. This year, a new idol was brought from Kolkata’s Kumartuli along with other important items needed for the rituals. Working around school and office schedules, the Bengalis in Lagos enthusiastically take part in the festivities for five days

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Probashi Pujas Durga Puja 2023 Durga Puja Probashi UK USA Canada Sweden Singapore
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