Bengali Association of New South Wales Durga Pujo
Join the quirky journey of the Bengali Association of New South Wales, from humble beginnings in a Sydney tea shop to vibrant Durga Pujo celebrations. Discover how 12 families brought Kolkata’s festive spirit to Australia with love, laughter, and a touch of Bengali humour.
It was a crisp October morning, around 8:30, and there I was, happily tucking into my kochuri and cholar dal, when my phone let out a little beep. I glanced at the screen and, lo and behold, it was a delightful ensemble of pictures from my elder sister, Disona. She was in Sydney, no less, celebrating Durga Pujo, which immediately piqued my curiosity. I shot back a quick message: “Which Pujo is this?” With a characteristic brevity that only siblings can master, she replied: “Bengali Association of New South Wales.”
Now, I’ve never been one to ignore a mystery, especially not one involving Bengalis and their innate ability to create a second Kolkata in every corner of the world. So, off I went on a digital sleuthing spree, first landing on their Facebook page and then delving deeper into their website. And what I discovered was a tale worth telling.
The site began with the charming line: “It all started with 12 families at a tea shop at the end of 1974.” I knew right then and there that I had to write a story on this. I could almost picture it – a group of Bengalis huddled together over steaming cups of tea, debating the proper way to make alur dom, while planning how to bring the spirit of Kolkata’s Pujo to the shores of Australia.
Apparently, this humble gathering of 12 families in ’74 laid the foundation for what is now the thriving Bengali Association of New South Wales. Over the years, they’ve stayed true to their mission of spreading all things quintessentially Bengali—love, laughter, food, music, art, and more than a little dash of Pujo magic. One look at the vibrancy of their celebrations today, and it’s clear they’ve succeeded.
The present committee is led by the likes of Sourav Mukherjee (President), Sudip Sinha (General Secretary), and Sampa Ghosh Dastidar (Treasurer). But what really tickled my fancy were the Bengali captions they’ve embraced, including one gem: “Juto Shelai Theke Chondi Path, Amra shobtai kori abong bhalobeshe kori” (From stitching shoes to reciting sacred texts, we do it all, and we do it with love). If that isn’t the most Bengali thing I’ve heard in a while, I don’t know what is.
True to form, Bengalis have never been shy about their multi-tasking prowess, especially when it comes to community spirit. I can just imagine them throwing themselves headlong into every aspect of Pujo preparation – from perfecting the bhog to debating whether the dhunuchi naach was up to snuff – all with the enthusiasm that only we Bengalis can muster. I dare say, no task is too small or too big when tackled with that much zeal and a good dose of humour.
It’s this very essence of being involved in everything and doing it with love that keeps the Bengali diaspora around the world so tightly knit. From the jostling lanes of Kolkata to the sprawling suburbs of Sydney, we’ve carried our culture, our Pujo, and, naturally, our good-natured debates about whether the kochuri should be fluffier.
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