Durga pujo is around the corner. Though the spirit is a little marred for those heading to Kolkata this week, due to the new quarantine rules, for those staying back in the UK, grand celebrations await as life normalises. People have already decided what to wear, which pujos to attend, as the festivities begin from mid-week to the weekend of 16-17 October.
Adda Slough launched its first Durga Puja in 2019 becoming one of the best pujos in the UK by bagging two accolades. Adda, known for its innovation and trendsetting, in 2019 they hosted their first ever ‘Pandal’ (temporary marquee) in Slough Cricket Club. It created the nostalgia of gathering or adda like Kolkata’s famous Maddox Square Pujo.
Continuing the tradition this year, they are adding two significant features. Adda raised and sent INR 5 lakhs (roughly GBP 5000) back to Kolkata and Sundarban area during Covid and Amphan cyclone. The organisation worked in collaboration with Banglanatak.com to create an exclusive and beautiful gate made of wooden dolls by artisans of Agradwip, Bardhaman. This gate will be featured at Adda’s pujo this year. Adda also wants to recreate the magic of Chandannagar’s lighting at their pujo. The pujo will be inaugurated by Slough MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi.
The UK will be witnessing over 40 durga pujos this year including one Mega Durgotsav organised by BIBA (Bilete Bangali) at Zoroastrian centre. To visit Durga pujos near your home, check out a comprehensive list prepared by Indian Bengalis in UK (IBUK), a diaspora group, at https://www.indianbengalisinuk.net/durgapuja. They are also organising a Grand Bijoya Sammiloni on 23 October at Heston Catholic Social Club this year.
Roshni Mukherjee, founder of Myosutra, a popular Bengali boutique for shopping in the UK has been planning and preparing for pujo since past few months. Speaking to Asian Voice, Roshni said, “This year we have seen that people are extremely concerned for the weavers’ conditions in India. They have been terribly affected by Covid. So, people have consciously decided to buy handloom products through us. There is a steady increase in demands for muslin sarees too. But besides that, youngsters have bought trendy items like our saree with London skyline or Harry Potter prints. Also, we have seen a growing trend of fusion of two traditional sarees, becoming increasingly popular.
“We have also encouraged people to recycle old clothes. Families are recycling old Baluchari and Patola sarees into creating something trendy for each of the family members. Like a Johor coat (jacket) for men or dhoti or kurta for their children and blouses for women. People are really excited to celebrate pujo as normal this year.”
For Bengalis no pujo is ever complete without finger-licking delicious traditional cuisine. Anjan Chatterjee of Mainland China and Oh Calcutta fame is opening their first restaurant Chourangi in London on 7 October 2021, right in time for pujo celebrations. He has flown in three chefs from Kolkata and gearing up for the festive period ahead. The restaurant is inspired by old Kolkata coffee house and will feature a curated set menu for pujo. Anjan said, “We have an opening menu called Best of Chourangi. It will include our famous dishes such as cutlets, luchi, sandesh, kulfi etc. We will also have sides like aam kashundi begun (aubergine), rajbari kofta, specifically for festive season.”
Prosenjit Banerjee of new Bengali restaurant Adda Hut in Reading said, “We are planning to make Paturi this year as well as Arsalan (famous restaurant in Kolkata) style biriyani. The pujo in Reading is in its 9th year. So, Bengalis living around would naturally like to have a full course traditional Bengali meal to celebrate pujo. We have different types of set menus including an exclusive vegetarian menu, side dishes and various desserts including mishti doi.”
