Durga Puja celebrations unite Bengalis worldwide
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Bengalis around the world marked Durga Puja in communities from Belgium to Singapore, maintaining traditions and rituals despite living far from their homeland.
In Antwerp, Belgium, Agomoni Belgium Durga Puja, founded in 2025, hosted celebrations with traditional rituals and cultural events, drawing volunteers from diverse communities to prepare food and assist with festivities. They adapt the timing of celebrations to match the Bengali calendar while also incorporating events like Garba and Dhunuchi dance.
In the United States, Uttoron Durga Puja in Seattle, established in 2005, holds its celebrations on weekends, with preparations beginning months in advance. The Bengali Association Singapore has celebrated Durga Puja since 1956, offering a packed five-day program of competitions, performances, and food stalls in Little India. Ranajit Bhattacharya, a Bengali living in Singapore for 21 years, noted that while the overseas celebrations are vibrant, they cannot fully replicate the experience of celebrating Durga Puja in Kolkata.
Closer to home, eight housing societies in Noida, India, joined together to celebrate in a central park with the theme “Jeevan Chakra.”
