British Bengalis celebrate Durga Puja on London's River Thames
Hundreds joined the fifth annual Durga Parade organised by Heritage Bengal Global to mark the festival with traditional music and dance.
Hundreds of people joined the fifth annual Durga Parade on the River Thames in London on Saturday, according to reports by The Times of India and The Tribune. The event, organised by the not-for-profit Heritage Bengal Global (HBG), featured traditional dhak beats, dancing, and musical performances.
A decorated idol of Goddess Durga, created by students from Techno India University in Kolkata, was set afloat on the river. Participants sailed past several London landmarks, including the London Eye, Big Ben, and the Tower of London.
Bihar Tourism Minister Kedar Prasad Gupta attended the event as a guest. Gupta offered his best wishes to the British Indians participating and invited UK-based Indians and tourists to visit Bihar to see the development occurring under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
HBG Director Anirban Mukhopadhyay said the organisation aims to place Kolkata and Durga Puja on the global tourism map. He noted that the group intends to realise the full potential of the UNESCO intangible heritage tag assigned to the festival in 2021.
The parade, which began in 2022, seeks to create a global platform for Durga Puja celebrations. The festivities on the boat included traditional dancing and music from members of the British Bengali community, including Krishnendu and his daughter Gungun, who are known for a viral social media trend.