𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗮 𝗣𝘂𝗷𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻

Our member Ms S. Sil had visited London in the year 2022. Her experience of the Bengali culture and Durga Puja celebration left her feeling nostalgic. She speaks of the different places she visited in London and especially the Durga Puja.
Ms S. Sil had gone to London in the month of August 2022.There she visited most of the places like Queen Elizabeth palace, London eye, Thames River, London bridges etc. But one of the stories she wanted to share with us was the Durga Puja celebrated in London by the Bengali cultural society, Reading. Reading is the UK registered charity, established in 1982 by the local community.
At Swanley town hall, St Mary’s Road, Reading, Durga Puja was celebrated for five-days as celebrated in Kolkata. That year the celebration was for four-days as Saptami and Ashtami had fallen on the same day. During the day everyone participated in the Puja and in the evening they all enjoyed the cultural programs. On each day from Shasthi to Bijoya Dashami different kinds of programs like antakshari, dandiya etc. were held where majority of the people could participate.
In the day time after the Puja people used to sit around for adda and then relish the bhog comprising 𝘬𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘥𝘪, 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘯 𝘣𝘩𝘢𝘫𝘢, 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘴𝘩, 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘺 and 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘩. Food and handicraft stalls were also put up for people to have a great time relishing authentic Bengali flavour of all kinds. On these days people were found in traditional attires like saree, designer kutas and dhuti-punjabis.
I was extremely happy to be able to participate in Durga Puja even while staying in London.