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Rituals, ‘bhog’ & togetherness liven up Puja at Bangaliana Multicultural Christchurch

For the fourth straight year, the Bengali community at Christchurch, NZ, celebrated the autumnal festival with perfection

My Kolkata Web Desk, Sahi Roy Bhowmick Christchurch Published 15.10.24, 06:19 PM
Started in 2021, New Zealand’s Bangaliana Multicultural Christchurch has been successfully celebrating Durga Puja with all traditions and rituals in place
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Started in 2021, New Zealand’s Bangaliana Multicultural Christchurch has been successfully celebrating Durga Puja with all traditions and rituals in place

Photographs by Bangaliana Multicultural Christchurch
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The celebrations began on October 10 this year and the Durga idol was flown all the way from Kolkata. The ‘mandap’ was decorated in elegant white with garlands of yellow and orange marigolds
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The celebrations began on October 10 this year and the Durga idol was flown all the way from Kolkata. The ‘mandap’ was decorated in elegant white with garlands of yellow and orange marigolds

The women performed the welcoming ritual of the Devi with ‘boron’ in the traditional way
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The women performed the welcoming ritual of the Devi with ‘boron’ in the traditional way

On October 11 and 12, Durga Puja rituals such as ‘arati’ and ‘pushpanjali’ were conducted before devotees could relish the ‘bhog’
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On October 11 and 12, Durga Puja rituals such as ‘arati’ and ‘pushpanjali’ were conducted before devotees could relish the ‘bhog’

The Puja rituals ended on October 13 with a grand ‘arati, which was followed by the community members enjoying a sumptuous Bengali buffet spread comprising khichudi, alur dum, chholar dal, pakoda, papad, chutney, payesh, gulab jamun and jalebi
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The Puja rituals ended on October 13 with a grand ‘arati, which was followed by the community members enjoying a sumptuous Bengali buffet spread comprising khichudi, alur dum, chholar dal, pakoda, papad, chutney, payesh, gulab jamun and jalebi

A cultural programme was held where the young and old put up various performances. In picture, children perform in front of the goddess
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A cultural programme was held where the young and old put up various performances. In picture, children perform in front of the goddess

The women of the community also participated in showcasing their cultural roots and talent in singing
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The women of the community also participated in showcasing their cultural roots and talent in singing

Children received tokens of appreciation for participating in the events. Not forgetting their roots, their performance featured folk and classical themes
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Children received tokens of appreciation for participating in the events. Not forgetting their roots, their performance featured folk and classical themes

Women put vermilion on each other for the ‘sindur khela’ and bid farewell to Durga on the last day of the celebrations
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Women put vermilion on each other for the ‘sindur khela’ and bid farewell to Durga on the last day of the celebrations

People turned up in huge numbers to witness the grandeur of the Durga Puja celebrations by Bangaliana Multicultural Christchurch
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People turned up in huge numbers to witness the grandeur of the Durga Puja celebrations by Bangaliana Multicultural Christchurch

RELATED TOPICS

Probashi Pujas Durga Puja Rituals Bodhon Pushpanjali Bhog Celebrations Sindoor Khela Bengali Diaspora
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