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Bengal's Durga Puja Shines Bright in Mangaluru
12 Oct
Summary
- Traditional artisans and priests are brought from West Bengal.
- The festival fosters a sense of belonging for the Bengali community.
- Devotees serve prasad to hundreds daily during the week-long event.
The Sri Durga Puja Committee in Mangaluru meticulously recreates Bengal's cherished Durga Puja traditions, ensuring authenticity by sourcing key personnel and materials from West Bengal. This dedication includes bringing in artisans for idol creation, priests for ceremonies, cooks for authentic cuisine, and musicians for traditional drumming, alongside soil from the Ganges for rituals.
The week-long festivities, commencing on Panchami and concluding with visarjan, aim to preserve Bengali religious and cultural heritage in the coastal city. Beyond religious observance, the event provides a crucial sense of home for expatriate Bengalis and warmly welcomes individuals from other communities, fostering cultural exchange.
This year's Durga Puja, the committee's 43rd, is scheduled from October 15 to 21 at Hindi Prachar Bhavan, Lalbagh. The celebrations promise a rich tapestry of Bengali culture, including folk dances, traditional competitions like Dhunuchi dance, and children's events. The idol's arrival and departure are symbolically linked to future prosperity.
With Mangaluru's Bengali population growing, the scale of the celebration has expanded significantly over the years. The committee now serves prasad to approximately 400-500 people daily. Additional Pujas, including Lakshmi, Kali Mata, and Saraswati Puja, are also conducted to sustain Bengali traditions.
