Missing out on the festive fervour of Durga Puja in Kolkata, with the city turning into a canvas of magnificent pandals, does not mean not celebrating at all. Bengalis abroad find their way to celebrate through community pujas and social meet-ups during the festive season.
Singapore-based Barnali Bhattacharjee is part of the Singapore Bengali Association (SBA), which is in its 70th year, and she describes it as the emotion of a home away from home for the community. The idol of Goddess Durga is procured all the way from Kumartuli in Kolkata.
“With the rhythmic beats of the dhak, the fragrance of shiuli flowers, the sound of the dhaak and dhunuchi, and the divine presence of Maa Durga, the celebration recreates the warmth and nostalgia of Bengal in the heart of Singapore. A beautiful blend of devotion, tradition, music, dance, art, and cultural performances, Pujo brings generations together to celebrate their roots and preserve Bengali heritage,” Barnali said.
The women partake in making traditional anandaranju while there are cultural programmes, phuchka (pani puri) eating, and reel-making competitions during the five-day festivities.
Miles away in London, Nazneen Yasin takes her Kolkata roots to the pandal where the Bengalis dress traditionally and get together to pray to Goddess Durga. Yasin discovered Camden Durga Puja, London's oldest Pujo celebration, in 2021 and loved it so much that she joined the organising committee the very next year. “Five years on, the camaraderie has given me wonderful Bengali friendships, a real sense of belonging, and the joy of celebrating our culture through music, theatre, and performances. Having phuchka, rolls, shingara, and biryani all in one place is definitely a major selling point,” Nazneen said.
For Nazneen, what makes the Camden Durga Puja truly special is celebrating the strength of Durga Maa while creating a warm, inclusive space. This allows people from every culture to come together and feel a part of something beautiful.
Neha Chaddha makes sure to don traditional attire and celebrate Durga Puja in London too, partaking in a slice of Kolkata nostalgia. Though Neha has lived overseas for decades, festivities remind her of the bond with Goddess Durga across the shores. Once a Kolkatan, always a Kolkatan at heart.
“Wherever we may roam, the heartbeat of our culture travels with us,” is how Koel Das describes the Bengali essence overseas while living in Brussels. She calls Durga Puja overseas a celebration of belonging and continuity, transforming distant Flemish suburbs into a vibrant home away from home. The sounds of the traditional rhythms of the ‘dhak’, handmade idols, and shared devotion keep roots alive across continents and borders.
While Brussels hosts a few pandals, the community brings Durga Puja together in the vibrant heart of Antwerp in Belgium. Led by a Bengali purohit, the rituals are observed with complete sanctity, from Kola Bou snan and daily Pushpanjali to the solemn intensity of Sondhi Puja. Evenings come alive with the smoke of dhunuchi naach, the energy of Gujarati Garba, and the grace of Rabindra Sangeet and Rabindra Nritya.
“Rather than just recreating the streets of Kolkata, we recreate the warmth of a family home puja right here in Belgium, so no one misses home. It is a shared celebration that transcends boundaries, bringing together not only Bengalis, but diverse communities under one joyful roof,” Koel said.
In another continent, in the US, the San Francisco Bay Area is home to a thriving Bengali diaspora that recreates the grand spirit of Kolkata's Durga Puja. The Prabashi, Sanskriti, Bay Basi, and Pashchimi are a few of the eminent puja communities. Every autumn, multiple non-profit organisations and cultural clubs host large-scale celebrations featuring custom-crafted clay idols from India, ritualistic bhog, dhunuchi naach, and blockbuster concerts. The current Durga Puja season is in full swing with massive pandals and events spread across the South Bay, East Bay, and the Peninsula.
Debarchana Banerjee has been living in the US for two decades and is revelling in Durga Puja celebrations this year. She looks forward to reliving a slice of India through performances by Tollywood celebrities like actor Jisshu Sengupta, director-singer Anjan Dutt, singer Emom, and Bollywood singer Monali Thakur.
“The most important part that brings all the Bengalis together is food. Food is central to Bengali celebrations,” Debarchana said.
Expect massive buffet halls serving classic Khichuri, Labra, and Beguni for lunch bhog, alongside commercial stalls selling Kolkata street food favourites like egg rolls, fish fry, mutton biryani, and mishti doi.
“Holding on to these precious moments of laughter, the warmth of old and new friends, and the comforting taste of home-cooked bhog, we find solace in knowing that home isn't just a place on a map; it is the love we carry for each other across oceans,” Debarchana explained.
The Bengali Association of Greater Atlanta (BAGA) in Atlanta is celebrating its 47th Durga Puja. Rai, a Bengali from Mumbai with roots in Kolkata, moved to the US post-marriage and partakes in Durga Puja celebrations every year. This year, there are popular Indian artists performing, including the Hooligaanism Band, and singers Jolly Mukherjee, Sreyashi Bhattacharjee, and Sounak. There is also local talent, from children to adults, putting together some really fun and creative performances. “It is always lovely to see everyone come together on stage. Of course, food is a huge part of Pujo. Apart from the usual prasad and bhog, we also have a live Bengali mishti counter this year, which I’m particularly excited about,” said Rai.
Wherever they may roam, the essence of Durga Puja lies in their hearts, miles away from the maddening crowd of puja pandals in West Bengal.
