Bangladesh Puja Samiti of New York Celebrates 37th Annual Sharodiya Durga Puja with Tradition, Devotion, and Community Harmony: Indian Idol Fame Singers Piyusha Rakshit and Biswarup Banerjee Delight Audiences at Two-Day Celebration in Queens, Drawing Thousands of Devotees and Community Members

Uttom Kumer Shaha, Progga News Desk:

The 37th Annual Sharodiya Durga Puja 2026, organized by Bangladesh Puja Samiti of New York, Inc., concluded successfully in New York with profound religious devotion, vibrant cultural programs, devotional music, and the enthusiastic participation of thousands of Bengali Hindu community members from across the New York metropolitan area.

The two-day celebration was held on Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, at the Gujarati Samaj Hall in Fresh Meadows, Queens. The festival transformed the venue into a vibrant gathering place filled with religious devotion, cultural festivities, and a spirit of unity and celebration.

Organized by Bangladesh Puja Samiti of New York, the event featured traditional worship rituals, prayers and offerings to Goddess Durga, cultural performances, musical presentations, and the exchange of greetings among community members. The celebration further strengthened the religious heritage, cultural identity, and bonds of solidarity among Bengali Hindus living in the diaspora.

One of the major highlights of the two-day festival was the musical performances by Indian Idol-famous singers Piyusha Rakshit and Biswarup Banerjee. Piyusha Rakshit performed on Saturday, October 31, while Biswarup Banerjee took the stage on Sunday, November 1. Their captivating performances delighted the audience and added to the festive atmosphere of the Durga Puja celebration.

To mark the occasion and preserve the organization’s 37-year legacy, Bangladesh Puja Samiti also published its 37th annual Sharod issue, Agomoni (2026). The magazine was edited by Subin Purkayastha (Sour). The publication highlights the organization’s longstanding journey, religious traditions, and cultural heritage, making it a significant contribution to the community’s literary and cultural activities.

In a message marking the festival, Bangladesh Puja Samiti President Biswajit Saha and General Secretary Jagadish Chowdhury extended their heartfelt greetings and respectful wishes to everyone.

They emphasized the spiritual significance of the verse from the Sri Sri Chandi, Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu, which invokes the divine feminine energy residing in all living beings and elements of creation. According to the sacred text, the Goddess manifests in all beings as wisdom, patience, modesty, motherhood, consciousness, peace, reverence, memory, and compassion.

The organization’s leaders stated that, in accordance with traditional religious practices and with the sincere cooperation of all members, Bangladesh Puja Samiti had once again undertaken the sacred observance of worshiping Goddess Durga with full religious devotion and solemnity.

They noted that one of the principal objectives of the celebration was to spread the message of peace, harmony, and goodwill while standing against superstition, cultural degradation, violence, hatred, and evil forces in society.

In their message, they further expressed the hope that the universal celebration of Durga Puja would serve as a lasting bond of communal harmony. They called upon everyone to stand united against injustice and oppression, set aside hatred and animosity, and embrace one another through the bonds of brotherhood and humanity.

The leaders also offered prayers at the feet of the Goddess for the peace and well-being of all living beings throughout the world, expressing their hope that divine blessings would bring happiness, prosperity, and peace into everyone’s lives.

Among the distinguished guests attending this year’s celebration was Saritha, a candidate for New York State Attorney General. During her visit to Bangladesh Puja Samiti’s Durga Puja celebration in Fresh Meadows, Queens, she expressed her appreciation for the tremendous turnout and enthusiastic participation of community members.

In a statement shared on social media, she said that she had visited Bangladesh Puja Samiti of New York in Fresh Meadows, Queens, where she witnessed an extraordinary gathering of people who shared one common expectation from their next Attorney General—a safer New York.

During this year’s Durga Puja celebration, Bangladesh Puja Samiti paid heartfelt tribute to the organization’s deceased members and associates, Tapasi Roy, Motilal Debroy, Bidhan Roy, and Shri Rana. The organization’s leadership and members expressed deep sorrow over their passing and offered prayers for the eternal peace of their departed souls.

The Executive Committee of Bangladesh Puja Samiti of New York, Inc. for 2026–2027 is led by President Biswajit Saha and General Secretary Jagadish Chowdhury.

The other office bearers of the committee are Vice Presidents Amianshu Dam Ashru, Rama Rani Sarkar, Subodh Sarkar, Vivek De, Ajay Das, Asim Bhattacharya, Rajib Nandi, Biswajit Sengupta, Subrata De, Subrata Talukdar, and Bidyut Deb; Joint Secretary Moni Gop; Assistant General Secretary Bijan Chowdhury; Treasurer Rana Dutta Ranjoo; Assistant Treasurer Rajat Nag; Publication and Literary Secretary Subin Purkayastha (Sour); Assistant Publication and Literary Secretary Dhruva Roy; Cultural Secretary Titu Dutta; Assistant Cultural Secretary Moumita Roy; Hospitality Secretary Ramanuj Das (Roni); Assistant Hospitality Secretary Rajesh Roy (Raju); Puja Secretary Mitali Deb (Miku); Assistant Puja Secretary Swapna Sen Lovely; Organizing Secretary Gobinda Bania; Assistant Organizing Secretaries Dibyendu Dutta Dibya and Shovon Chowdhury Samir; Publicity Secretary Sanjay Saha; Joint Publicity Secretary Bishnu Pada Pal; Women’s Secretary Champa Sengupta; Joint Women’s Secretaries Swapna Chowdhury and Polly De; Sports Secretary Loton Sarkar; and Assistant Sports Secretary Biplab Pal.

The Executive Committee members are Ranjit Purkayastha (Biju), Biplab Kanti Pal, Kumar Babul Saha, Piyas Kanchan Das (Sumon), Subhen Roy, Champa Roy, Soumik Chowdhury (Pol), Janardan Chowdhury, Dipti Devi, Shila Roy, Purnima De Chowdhury, Reba Chowdhury, Soma Ghosh, Lipi Roy, Biplab Dutta, Purnima Dutta, Arbindu Ghosh, Sunny Gop, Nupur De Tumpa, Nil De, Shaon Roy, Eni Nandi, Kaushik Chowdhury, Mouli Dutta Soma, Kalpana Das, Jolly Saha, Dilip Roy, Jayashree Ghosh, Piyush Dhar, Sumana Chand, Bidhan Chandra Das, Ranjan Saha Bablu, Shibu Das, Champa Kali De, Uttam Tanti, D. Chowdhury Asit, Subinoy Das (Chandan), Chandana Das, Biswajit Sen Chowdhury (Pultis), Sourav De Manna, Abhijit Sengupta, Arbindu Sengupta, Rintu Lal Das, Mita Dutta, Subhash Talukdar, Ashish Purkayastha, Pallab Sen Chowdhury Bhajan, Susmita Chowdhury, Shishir Ranjan Das, Shyamal Das, Himadri Banik (Rajan), Sumana Bhattacharya, Biswajit Purkayastha, Moumita Dhar Roy (Monti), Shelly Dhar Roy, Jayashree Chowdhury, Babul Pal, Sanchita Bhattacharya (Rimi), Tapati Ghosh, Lucky Saha, Rajib Deb, Sankalita Baral (Koli), Tapati Roy, Subrata Pal Chowdhury, Mousumi Kapali, Purabi Kar, Aparna Deb, Dipankar Das, Prashanta Deb, Sanatan Ghosh, Dipika Sen, Kaushiki Sen Chowdhury, and Monika Saha.

The organization’s Advisory Council, subcommittees, leadership, and members at all levels also extended their heartfelt Sharodiya greetings and best wishes to the community.

Following the successful conclusion of the 37th Annual Sharodiya Durga Puja, President Biswajit Saha and General Secretary Jagadish Chowdhury expressed their sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the celebration a success.

They stated that the financial, physical, and moral support provided by individuals and community members played an invaluable role in the successful organization of the festival. They extended their heartfelt appreciation to the Executive Committee, Advisory Council, subcommittees, volunteers, well-wishers, and members of the community for their dedication, cooperation, and commitment.

The organization’s leaders expressed their hope that Bangladesh Puja Samiti of New York, Inc. would continue to organize similar celebrations in the future to preserve the religious traditions, cultural heritage, social unity, and spirit of harmony among Bengali Hindus living in the diaspora.

With its celebration of religious devotion, cultural heritage, community solidarity, and the universal message of humanity and harmony, the 37th Annual Sharodiya Durga Puja 2026 organized by Bangladesh Puja Samiti of New York, Inc. became a memorable gathering for the Bengali Hindu community in New York.

The successful two-day celebration reaffirmed the enduring importance of preserving Bengali Hindu traditions and fostering unity, mutual respect, and cultural pride among generations of the diaspora.