Bangladesh Puja Samiti of New York Celebrates Grand Durga Puja: A Festival of Faith, Harmony, and Heritage
Progga News Desk, New York, October 5, 2025:
The Bangladesh Puja Samiti of New York hosted a magnificent two-day celebration of Sharadiya Durga Puja and Bijoya Dashami at the Gujarati Samaj Hall in Fresh Meadows, Queens, on Saturday and Sunday (October 4–5, 2025).
The venue transformed into a vibrant spiritual and cultural hub as hundreds of devotees and visitors gathered to offer prayers to Goddess Durga, share in religious devotion, and celebrate the spirit of community. The daylong festivities featured Devi Durga’s aradhana and puja rituals, distribution of prasad, children’s dance performances, and a colorful cultural evening showcasing popular artists from New York and India.
As devotional chants, the fragrance of incense, and music filled the hall, the festival embodied the unity of faith and culture that defines the Bengali Hindu diaspora in New York.
Bangladesh Puja Samiti President Ranjit Purkayastha and General Secretary Biplob Pal extended warm greetings to all attendees, devotees, and well-wishers, expressing gratitude for their participation in preserving the community’s cultural and spiritual traditions.
Among the distinguished guests present were Deputy Commissioner Dilip Chauhan, advisor Bishnu Gopal (Bishu), who commended the organizers for maintaining a shining example of faith and unity in the diaspora. He remarked,
“Though we live far from our motherland, we continue to uphold our traditions and heritage with pride. Let us remain united against religious intolerance and stand firmly for the rights and dignity of Sanatan Dharma followers in Bangladesh.”
He also called for solidarity for the release of Chinmoy Prabhu, who has been unjustly detained, and urged devotees to see Durga’s worship as a call for justice, light, and truth to triumph over darkness.
The event was graced by several prominent community leaders, including Navendra Dutta (former president, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council), Republican leader Nasir Khan Paul, Dr. Pradeep Kar, Julie Kar, Kumar Babul, Suman Das Priyas, Ashish Roy, Chandan Sen Gupta, Survana Sengupta, Dr. Mita Gopal, Democratic District Leader Dilip Nath, Deepa Nath, Priotosh Dey, Dipak Das, Govinda Bania, Gopan Saha, Ranjan Kumar Saha, Biswajit Saha, Julie Saha, Joya Chowdhury, advisor Deepak Saha, Paresh Saha, Rajib Nandi, Utpal Chowdhury, Dalia Chowdhury, Sanjiban Kumar (Editor, Saptahik Sandhan), Kanu Dutta (Journalist, DBC News), Uttam Kumar Saha (Editor & Publisher, Pragna), Sujan (Editor, Mim TV), Tapas Saha (Chief Photojournalist, Pragna), and Sanjit Ghosh among others.
Many guests praised the Bangladesh Puja Samiti for organizing such a spiritually enriching and culturally vibrant event, reaffirming the importance of unity, harmony, and heritage among the Hindu diaspora.
Throughout the day, the atmosphere resonated with devotional energy — the rhythmic chanting of mantras, sacred aarti, and melodious songs from both Bangladeshi and Indian artists filled the hall with divine grace and emotion.
As the evening concluded with pradeep prajwalan (lamp lighting), the devotees together chanted: “May Maa Durga bless us all — let the forces of darkness be vanquished, and may peace, unity, and humanity prevail.”
