Indian diaspora celebrates Durga Puja in Glasgow from inside a cathedral
It bridges the miles instantly,” said Shreemoyee Roy Chowdhury (26), a student at the University of Glasgow. For Nandita Bose (51), who has lived in Florida for years, evening arati brings childhood memories rushing back, while shared meals turn familiar flavours into a celebration of community.
Mornings unfold with pushpanjali, Kanya Pujan and Sandhi Puja, observed according to traditional panchang timings. Biryani and a special vegetarian “mutton curry”, prepared without onion or garlic as a Navami offering to Maa Durga, complete the spread. That sense of community is what makes Puja special,” she said. “I honestly had teary eyes standing right in the middle of Times Square,” said Souvik Mukherjee (24), an MS student in New York.
Pune: As autumn ushers in Durga Puja and Navaratra, the distance from home can feel especially poignant for those celebrating thousands of miles away. With soaring airfares making trips home a luxury, familiar rituals, the beat of the dhak and the swirl of garba take on a deeper significance. Across continents, the Indian diaspora is finding ways to recreate the magic of the festive season, transforming churches, cricket grounds and university ballrooms into intimate corners of home. “Seeing a Durga Puja inside a church in Scotland, surrounded by local Scottish people and fellow Indian students enjoying Bengali street food and authentic bhog, made me feel right at home for a second. By evening, the mood shifts to dandiya, Bollywood nights and fashion shows. For Rituparna, the celebrations begin at home with Mahalaya, when potlucks bring friends together over Bengali delicacies such as shukto, a mildly bitter mixed-vegetable dish, and muri ghonto, a fragrant preparation of fish head and rice. Friends from Kerala and the wider South Indian community, Dutch colleagues and Bangladeshi neighbours join in, often bringing dishes and sweets of their own. “Everyone looks for a reason to celebrate, dress up and come together. Women wear red-and-white saris, we take photographs and share our food. Here, cultural differences take a back seat to the joy of being together. “Hearing those vibrant, traditional dhak drum beats and watching the dhunuchi dance performances surrounded by skyscrapers brought me right back home. In Central Florida, and at Florida State University’s Student Union Ballroom, food and music bridge generations.