Mahalaya proclaims the homecoming of Goddess Durga from her heavenly abode to Earth with her four children to spend time with her paternal family - us.
Synonymously Bristol Durga Puja on this day welcomed the arrival of their idol from the workshop of the traditional clay artisans of West Bengal who magically gives shape to the divine with their unique expertise.
Bristol Durga Puja devotees gathered on 7th of October to celebrate this auspicious occasion by listening to the enchanting voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra narrating holy verses followed by merry making.
The autumn afternoon gathering brought everyone into the festive mode gearing the mind and soul for the approaching divine worship and celebrations.
Indians from in and around Bristol came together and rejoiced with songs, dance and of course food!
A potluck buffet was shared which had food from other Indian states. The warmth of the festive spirit brought people together and merriment triumphed amidst cultural diversity. Everyone felt invited in the celebration of this happiness .
Bristol Durga Puja will be celebrated from 18th October to 21st October in the Bristol Hindu Temple. The participation together is the main aim of the event so our next generation gets a glimpse our tradition and culture.
Navratri will be celebrated at the same time in the next hall which is connected by a common kitchen. The vibration of the garba sticks and the bengali dhak beats will be synchronised in festive rhythm where people from different Indian states will mingle, sing, dance and eat together. The common kitchen will also be serving fusion food from Bengal and other states especially Gujarat. Goddess Durga will be centre of veneration during these four days that will bind people of different regions together.
Royal Berkshire Bengali Association is celebrating their Durga puja from 14 October till 18 October 2018.
The ideology behind and inception of RBBA was based on a similar thought when a group of Indian professionals residing in the beautiful county of Berkshire decided to come together and create a platform of celebration; where young and old come together and participate in this magnificent celebration of life. After 9 successful years of hosting 'Durga Puja' theyare again poised to scale new heights as RBBA turns 10 this year.
Jyotindranath Bhattacharya from RBBA told Asian Voice, “Most of us have grown up with very beautiful and precious memories of Durga Puja back home and we feel blessed to be able to recreate that ambience – ‘Desher Pujo Bidheshe’ in our ‘Sarbojonin Durga Utsav’ – The pandal like atmosphere, the merry sound of ‘Dhaak’, the fragrance of incense and the soulful chanting of the Mantras create the perfect environment to invoke Ma Durga as we seek her blessings.
“This year we will celebrate our 10th Durga Pujo at Baylis House from the 14th to the 18th of October replete with cultural extravaganza, mouth-watering food prepared by our own chefs that promises of a fabulous time for all.”
Their cultural activity includes performances by Kalakunj, Bandish and Eastern Euphony.
Basingstoke Durga Puja dates back to 2006 and has been celebrated with utmost devotion by a small group of Indians mostly from Bengal, Bihar, and Tripura since then, living in and around Basingstoke, Reading. A homely puja with lots of adda will take place on 13th & 14th of October 2018. The decorations have come all the way from Kolkata.
Cultural activities are also a part of their celebration as members of the puja committee and visitors showcase their singing, dancing talents. Last year, their drama – Koltola – ekti golpo kotha, was a huge hit among the audience. This year's drama is called 'Ma Kali Boarding', which is inspired from Shailen De's famous drama 'Jai Ma kali Boarding' and the characters are transformed according to the needs of the time.
Some key Puja festivites in UK are:
London Sharad Utsav, Ealing Town Hall, 18-21 October 2018
Panchamukhee Durga Utsav, Harrow Arts Centre, 13-20 October 2018
Indian Cultural Society, Cambridge, Atrium Hall, Netherhall School, 13 & 14 October 2018
Asian Voice is a media partner for the above Durga Pujas in the UK.
