As a Bengalee from Leeds it fills me with immense pride to write about our Durga Puja and Diwali celebrations, which we organise every year in the Leeds Hindu Mandir, located in Alexandra Road. The profile of our Puja has grown in stature year on year. The journey has not been easy, the long and windy road has been through a few rough patches and today this has culminated in a very successful and well run organisation. People from Yorkshire and outside the region have worked very hard to turn the clogs efficiently and made this event a grand success.
The concept of Durga Puja in Leeds started many years ago and was carried on by a few families. There came a time when there were two simultaneous celebrations of Durga Puja in the city and It took a lot of convincing on the part of Dr Sikha Saha, our chairperson to gather the devotees of Maa Durga under a unified banner. The Hindu Temple in Alexandra Road was the natural choice, as the venue was already in regular use and the Mandir provided the right backdrop for Maa Durga’s yearly worship.
Leeds has the unique advantage of attracting a lot of young professionals. It already has a very active and enthusiastic Bengalee population who have been steadfast in their commitment to preserve our culture and have for the last 28 years carried on with the Durga Puja.
The Puja, has changed and it has changed for the better. It would appear different to every person and is heavily influenced by their own perception of Durga Puja. Those who have had the fortune of spending many Puja’s in Kolkata or in Bengal, do try and emulate the same in Leeds, which most of us have made their home. However the spirit still remains the same, as the communal kitchen for 5 days, the food, the daily routine completely transforms us.
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