Houston Durgabari Celebrates Durga Puja with Midnight Rituals

Last month, a Durga Puja celebration in Houston, Texas marked the festival's traditions by following the Indian calendar and performing rituals at the exact times as in Kolkata and the rest of India. On the night of September 30th, the Houston Durgabari held the Sandhi Puja, a crucial ritual performed at the juncture of Ashtami and Navami, at 2:51 AM - the same time as in Kolkata. Despite the late hour, the temple was packed with devotees who experienced the "heavenly vibrations" and "mystical" atmosphere.

The Houston Durgabari's Durga Puja is celebrating its silver jubilee this year. In 2015, the event was recognized as the best international Durga Puja by the Indian state government, which conferred the Sarod Samman award on it. This year's celebration also marks the 50th anniversary of the first Durga Puja held in Houston back in 1975. Volunteers created a 250-ft long alpona leading to the temple, featuring traditional motifs as well as contemporary elements like the hand-pulled rickshaw of Kolkata.

The Durga Puja was inaugurated by the Consulate General of India in Houston, along with the Durgabari's president, secretary, and puja chairpersons. The cultural programs will be held over the next weekend, allowing the Bengali and Indian diaspora in Houston to fully immerse themselves in the festivities.