Durga Puja is a Hindu festival that is most widely celebrated in Eastern India, particularly in the state of West Bengal. India has a diverse range of cultures, languages, and religions, and each of the 28 states celebrates its own customs.

Durga, the Hindu goddess symbolizing Shakti (power) and maternal love, is the most revered manifestation of God for Bengalis. “Ma Durga,” as the goddess is affectionately known, is believed to be the mother of the universe and symbolizes the victory of good in the battle against evil. Puja means “religious ritual,” thus Durga Puja is the worship and celebration of Durga.

Every Fall, Bengalis gather to celebrate and worship Ma Durga. It is considered to be an auspicious and joyous time, similar to the magical feeling that Christmas evokes here in the United States. Parts of India even observe a five-day holiday for Durga Puja. The streets of Kolkata, a major city in Indian and the capital of West Bengal, are lit up with hundreds of pandals (platforms), displaying eclectic artistic interpretations of the goddess. Massive crowds of people dressed in their finest new clothing celebrate in the streets, socializing, eating, and trying to catch glimpses of the goddess. It is one of the most well-known festivals around the world that many foreigners visit Kolkata to experience.

It is an especially magical time for children, who grow up with nostalgic memories of receiving new clothes and gifts, and eating famous Bengali sweets during this festive time. They look forward to Durga Puja each year with anticipation and excitement, and adults can often be heard recounting fond memories of what it meant to them growing up. 

As an American-born Bengali, I have heard tales from my grandparents as well as my parents, and now I am finding my own stories developing through each puja I attend.

Anywhere that there is a Bengali diaspora, it is certain that there will be a Durga Puja celebration. Other cities in India such as Delhi and Mumbai hold Durga Puja celebrations, also known as Navratri, as well as other countries such as England, Australia, Singapore, and the United States. Although they are different from the massive festival that transforms Kolkata, each local celebration has its own character and style. In fact, there are multiple celebrations in Southern California alone, and many people fly or drive hundreds of miles to attend this highly anticipated annual event.

The electric atmosphere of Durga Puja was re-created in Manhattan Beach this past weekend with a three-day event hosted by the Dakshini Bengali Association. Upon entering the puja room, a transformed assembly hall at Mira Costa High School, a display of elaborately decorated statues of Durga and her children greeted the public. Ma Durga’s children, Laxmi, Saraswati, Ganesh, and Kartik, symbolize Prosperity, Knowledge, Wisdom, and Beauty, respectively.

Attendees crowded around the statues in vibrant Indian garb, palms clasped together and eyes closed, concentrating on their prayers. Others bowed their heads, demonstrating to their young children how to pay respects. Many people also chatted in the back, reuniting with friends they hadn’t seen since last year’s event. People complimented each other on the array of gorgeous saris, lehngas, salwars, and Indian jewelry that colored the puja hall. Another annual conversation trend is the collection of comments about how much the kids have grown up since last year, as every year is a benchmark for growth and progress.

During the interactive pushpanjali ceremony, men, women and children of all ages held fresh flower petals as offerings and repeated ancient Sanskrit prayers after the priest, seizing the opportunity to voice one’s innermost desires to Ma Durga. The flower petals were then placed at the feet of the statue, and more ceremonies rich in symbolism followed. Afterwards, prasad was distributed, consisting of the fruits, nuts, and sweets that were offered to the goddess during the ceremony. Eating prasad is considered to be a direct divine blessing.

After the religious rituals, traditional Bengali foods such as maach (fish), khichuri (lentils and rice), and papad (a crispy wafer) were served buffet-style outside. As is Bengali tradition, chutney is always offered, as well as a syrupy and soft Bengali sweet for dessert, such as rasgulla (a spongy white ball soaked in sugar syrup).

After dinner, an evening of live entertainment in the adjoining auditorium followed, with local talent performing plays, songs, dances, and fusion pieces. Celebrity artists are also flown in from India each year, and the festivities often continue well past midnight.

Photos from the event can also be viewed here, along with descriptions.

The Dakshini Bengali Association holds various cultural events throughout the year, with Durga Puja being the premiere production. Founded 26 years ago with the goal of keeping Bengali culture alive, it, along with other Bengali organizations, has created a local community in Southern California. 

Year round, adults collaborate to plan events and to lend a helping hand in organizing this large-scale celebration accommodating hundreds of people. Children are also highly involved in Durga Puja. Many perform Indian classical dances, act in plays, or sing classical and contemporary songs in Bengali or Hindi.

Durga Puja exposes children who have grown up outside of India to Indian culture from a young age. The youngsters look forward to doing pushpanjali, eating sweets, performing with their friends, and seizing the opportunity to wear their fancy Indian clothes that are usually stashed away for most of the year. 

Many attendees who are also parents hope to instill in their children the culture and tradition that they grew up with. That way the next generation, although raised in America, will retain these values and cultural pride to pass on to future generations. I have been attending Dakshini’s cultural events since I was three years old, and it was at Durga Puja that I met many of my close friends. Over the years, we have performed together in many dances and plays. The future seems bright, as the next generation of Indo-Americans intends on keeping the rich culture alive.

Dakshini welcomes people of other cultures, and anyone who is interested in attending future events can find information on the official website. It takes dedication to one’s culture to put in months of hard work in addition to school, work, and other demands of daily life. The continuing success of Durga Puja each year is an encouraging sign that Bengali culture is flourishing here in America.

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