Since 2009, the Bengal Heritage Foundation (BHF), a UK-based charity, has been celebrating Durga Puja among the Bengali community in London. With each passing year, the celebration, called the London Sharad Utsav (LSU), has amplified in size, scale and splendour. This year was no exception as LSU retained its status as the biggest Durga Puja in Europe, moving to the Pitzhanger Manor, a heritage building in Ealing, London.
Organised between October 11 and 14 (LSU remains one of the very few probashi pujas to be observed over four days), BHF’s Durga Puja lived up to its billing as a confluence of culture and community.
The unveiling of ‘Parboni’, BHF’s award-winning annual magazine
This year’s LSU was graced by a number of distinguished individuals, including Vikram Doraiswami, high commissioner of India to the UK; Nick Low, high commissioner designate of the UK to the Maldives; Sujit Ghosh, deputy high commissioner of India to the UK; Deepak Choudhary, minister coordination at the high commission of India; Asma Khan, celebrated chef and Time’s 100 Most Influential People honoree; Raghav Singhal, CEO of ICICI Bank UK; Sudhir Sharma, CEO of SBI UK; Amit Ghosh, Lead of Global Collaboration Forum; Suranjan Das, vice-chancellor of Adamas University. Their presence underlined the importance of LSU as a major cultural event for the Indian diaspora in Europe. Many of them also attended the launch of Parboni, BHF’s award-winning annual magazine.
Dhak and dhunuchi, antakshari, quiz, and more
Ashtami ‘anjali’ at London Sharad Utsav
On Ashtami, the biggest crowd of LSU gathered, with thousands of devotees queuing up in inclement weather, determined to catch a glimpse of Durga and her retinue. The sight of devotees braving the rain to pay their respects was a powerful testament to the devotion and spirit of the attendees.
Like every year, LSU involved a rich blend of cultural programmes, spiritual rituals, and community activities. Attendees participated in dhak and dhunuchi competition, bringing the energy and spirit of Durga Puja alive. Ay Re Chhute Aye and Kheyal Khushi featured heartwarming performances by young children, whose vibrant energy delighted the audience.
Ghungroo, an evening of contemporary dance performances, blended classical and modern styles.
Soulful Bengali music was also on offer through Benche Thakar Gaan while Rang De Basanti provided for pulsating performances with high-energy Bollywood music and electrifying dance routines. Amplifying the music quotient further was an antakshari session, with attendees engaged in friendly competition. An engaging quiz competition was also part of the itinerary, which attracted 75 teams, adding an element of intellectual excitement to the event.
As is the norm, LSU was the hub of a number of cultural activities across four days of the celebration
A spiritual highlight of LSU was the traditional Kumari Puja, celebrating the divinity of Durga. The food stalls were a massive draw, serving traditional Bengali delicacies like khichuri and labra, along with crowd favourites such as fish fry and mutton chop.
“Organising Europe’s biggest Durga Puja, in the open grounds of the gorgeous Pitzhanger Manor, for the first time was quite challenging, but it brought back wonderful memories of a Kolkata puja pandal. The sense of fulfilment in seeing our visitors enjoy the Puja, the atmosphere and the cultural programmes made it all worth it. Visitors commented that it reminded them of Maddox Square and the pratima reminded them of Bagbazar. It’s gratifying to be a part of this celebration, savour delicious food and cherish moments of happiness in these uncertain times,” concluded Mainak Choudhury, LSU operations committee member.
