Southern Grove Hosts Five-Day Durga Puja Celebration
This month, we supported Shree Sangha UK, an East London community group whose members include East End Homes residents, in celebrating Sharadiya Durga Puja, a five-day festival held at our Southern Grove Community Hall in Mile End, which concluded on Tuesday, 20 October.
" This sacred festival gives us a wonderful opportunity to unite as one family, worship Maa Durga and further strengthen the bonds of our heritage, culture and harmony " - says Chandan Roy , President of Shree Sangha UK.
Durga Puja is a major Hindu festival celebrating Goddess Durga, who symbolises strength, and protection. The festival brings communities together to celebrate, share traditions and seek blessings for peace, wellbeing, and prosperit y for their families . Durga Puja usually takes place around three weeks before Diwali, forming part of the vibrant autumn festive season celebrated by Hindu communities .
The celebration at the community centre included families coming together to share traditional food, take part in cultural customs and religious rituals, and offer prayers before a beautifully decorated shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga (Durga Puja pandal). The event also featured dancing, singing, drama performances and poetry recitals in both English and Bengali , bringing communit y together through a shared celebration of culture and traditions.
At the heart of the celebration was a traditional ritual known as Devi Boron, during which married women gathered to present symbolic offerings to Maa Durga. Please watch the video.
These traditionally include sindoor (red vermilion powder), sweets, betel leaves and other ceremonial items. The red sindoor, also worn along the parting of married women's hair, symbolises marriage and is associated with blessings for a long and happy married life. Through the ritual, women honor Goddess Durga, seek blessings for their families' wellbeing and bid farewell to the Goddess.
“Everyone is welcome to come along, enjoy a time of prayer and spend time with their families and the local community. We offer free vegetarian food, including traditional sweets, for everyone to share. People really love this celebration, particularly children! It’s a multicultural event, connecting Bangladeshi and English community. It's all about bringing people together and celebrating shared tradition.” - reflects a host of the event who is an East End Homes resident and member of Shree Sangha UK.
