Durga Puja at Times Square, NRIs celebrate at ‘historic’ event
New York’s Times Square on October 5 and 6 witnessed its first ever Durga Puja celebration. The event, widely covered by social media posts, hosted massive crowds of Indian-Americans and several other nationalities.
Organised by the Bengali Club, US, the two-day celebration began with the traditional Nabami Puja held on the ninth day of Durga Puja, and the recitation of Durga Stotras.
A Bollywood musical and dance session, as well as a live band performance entertained the attendees. In a video making rounds on the internet, a singer can be heard singing the popular Bengali song, ‘Dhak Baja Kashor Baja’, as devotees dance to the tune.
A vibrant celebration of the Sindur Khela, a Bengali ceremony where married women apply vermillion to each other, was the highlight of the event.
Videos of men and women dressed in traditional attire while performing the Dhunuchi Naach have also caught the attention of internet users.
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Netizens applauded the event, terming it a ‘historic’ celebration by the growing Indian-American community. Several of them also expressed pride over the showcase of Bengali celebrations on a global stage.
Festivities concluded with the Dashmi Puja as devotees bid farewell to the Goddess seated at the heart of the portable pandal.
