KOLKATA: While we get ready to welcome the Goddess and usher in the festivities with boundless joy and excitement, there are millions across the globe and in other Indian cities, who, too, share the same enthusiasm and celebrate Durga Puja with the same passion and fervour which marks our puja. Bengalis settled far and away, in countries like UK, US and Germany, observe the puja just as we do and feel the same urge to join the festivities. So do those based in other Indian cities, from Delhi to Mumbai and Bengaluru.
'Maa Aaschen Tumi Kothaye’, an initiative of The Times of India is a celebration of this feeling of belonging, of togetherness and of reaching out to your near and dear ones, who can’t be with you in Kolkata this year but is as much a part of the celebrations wherever they are. Loved ones will urge those separated to continue with the celebrations wherever they are. The idea is to remind them that they are with you this festive period and that is the real essence of Durga Puja.
The Unesco acknowledgement has made UK-based diaspora organization ‘Adda’ highlight Bengal’s cultural heritage this puja, fostering all that is quintessentially Bengal. Prosenjit Bhattacharjee, one of the organizers, said: “It’s also Adda’s 10th year so we want to mark both occasions beginning with the Gate of Joy at our pandal in London’s Slough Cricket Club grounds. The gate will be filled up with art and craft from rural Bengal. For this, we are collaborating with Banglanatak dot com that promotes traditional Indian art.”
Manas Acharya of Banglanatak dot com, said, “We have procured patachitra from Pingla in West Midnapore, chhau masks from Tharida in Purulia, bamboo masks from Ushaharan in South Dinajpur and shola work from Santiniketan for the Adda Slough Puja.”
A group of Indian families in Germany have come together to host the puja at Berlin for the second year. The idol has been brought from Kumartuli and ‘dashakarma’ items have been couriered from India.
Indians have formed an NGO named IGNITE eV, two years ago, that organized the first puja last year which was an instant hit with more than 2,500-odd Germans and Indians living in Berlin attending the occasion. This year, the organisers expect 7,000-odd visitors between October 1 and 5 at Sri Ganesh Hindu Temple in Berlin.
In California, US, a group of Bengalis has formed an organization called ‘Poorba’ that will be holding its maiden puja. Like any Kolkata puja, it has a theme — ‘Bonedi barir thakur dalan’.
Closer home in Navi Mumbai, the local Bengali Association will be celebrating its 43rd puja at Vashi this year. A 5,000 sq ft hall will host the puja, which, according to organizer Ashim Dey, is the largest in Maharashtra. “We transform the venue into a pandal with all the elements that you will find at one in Kolkata. Cultural events are held with Bollywood stars and singers taking the stage,” Dey said.
Mumbai’s Shivaji Park Bengal Club, that’s celebrating its centenary this year, will hold its 87th puja. “We are sure of converting the club into a mini Kolkata,” said Prashun Rakshit of the club. IT hub Bengaluru, too, hosts several big pujas, including one at Kormangla. “We transform the area into a mini Kolkata,” said Abir Banerjee, an organizer.