With Durga Puja festivities and Dusserah drawing to a close, the diaspora continues with the spirit of celebrations, now preparing for the upcoming Sharad Poonam and Diwali festivities. For the Bengalis in the UK, this year's Durga puja saw a new fervour in its celebration. Most places had gala and elaborate bhog (feast) at absolutely no cost to the visitor, for all the 4 days of the puja, while cultural and culinary activities by members also proved to be a pure delight. One of such pujas was by Milton Keynes Ananda Club (MKAC) in Milton Keynes, outside London that fed almost 800 people on Navami night. Even tycoons and Britain's richest men: the Hinduja brothers set up a big photo of Ma Durga in their residence, to mark the auspicious Navratri celebrations.
London Sharad Utsav in Ealing Town hall as usual had a very dedicated priest, who enchanted visitors with a very disciplined and detailed puja. Pritha Mukherjee's snacks in Victoria hall, besides usual distribution of bhog, cultural activities such as idol making for upcoming Bloomsbury Festival, children's fashion show and a film screening on Sunday 1 October- awed everyone.
London Durga Puja Dusserah Committee in Camden went an extra mile by creating awards. They organised 6 awards, presented to various other Durga pujas across UK, sponsored by Arcelor Mittal and Punjab National Bank. The best Pandal was awarded to Essex Indians and the Best Ambience in a Puja was given to- Spondon, Croydon. The Best Overall New Entrant (Discovery of the Year) was presented to Adi Shakti in Uxbridge. Best Committee Member was awarded to Mainak Roy, the Pride of Bengal award was given to Mahendra Agarwal and Pride of UK was presented to Varsha Mistry.
UK Prabashi Puja in Hounslow attracted a mesmerised audience with its gorgeous idol (protima), while Essex Indians' Durga Puja touched hearts with its creative ambience and decorations. Nirmal Mukherjee's Durga Puja, and other celebrations across the UK such as in Slough, Cambridge, Peterborough were celebrated with much pomp and gaiety too.
Sanskriti (Reading) is organising a Kali Puja and Diwali celebration on 19 October at Trunkwell House Hotel, while MKAC will have their Bollywood night (with Indian singer Debanjali- www.mkanandaclub.com) on 14th October at Shenley Brook End School and Kali Puja at Longueville Hall in Milton Keynes on 21st.
The Mayor of London will launch his Diwali celebrations to mark the UK-India Year of Culture on Tuesday 10 October 2017 at the Lalit Hotel in London. Mayor's Diwali on Trafalgar Square in London will be hosted on 15 October.
