Tower Bridge London opens for Durga Idol
The Lalbaba Rice Thames Durga Parade, where a 7-foot Durga idol sailed down the Thames, with London’s Tower Bridge opening up to honour this unique Bengali celebration. Organised by Heritage Bengal Global, this grand event showcased the vibrancy of Kolkata’s Durga Puja, uniting diverse cultures in a spectacular river parade.
In a rather unique twist on tradition, the iconic Tower Bridge swung open on October 26 to make way for something no one expected to see floating on the Thames—a glorious 7-foot Durga idol. This stunning procession, affectionately titled the Lalbaba Rice Thames Durga Parade, had all the makings of a Bengali celebration transported right into the heart of London.
A Dazzling Display on the Thames
The event, lovingly curated by Heritage Bengal Global, was anything but ordinary. From Putney West Pier, a double-decker boat set off, with over 100 enthusiasts onboard, including Londoners, members of the Indian diaspora, and distinguished guests like Sujit Ghosh, the Indian Deputy High Commissioner to London, and Soumitra Dutta, Dean of Saïd Business School at Oxford University.
Decked out in festive finery, the boat sailed along the Thames, accompanied by the thumping rhythm of dhak drums and the lilting strains of Bhatiali songs, all while performers in traditional attire danced the Biojya. It wasn’t long before the waterside crowds gathered, gazing on in awe as Durga herself glided by in a scene that seemed almost too surreal to be true.
Tower Bridge Bows to Bengal
But the showstopper moment arrived as the procession approached Tower Bridge. To a collective gasp, the bridge lifted, welcoming the goddess and her devotees with a grand ceremonial gesture. And as the boat carrying Durga sailed through, water collected from seven oceans and thirteen rivers worldwide was ceremoniously poured into the Thames, symbolising the unity of all waters and cultures. A tad poetic, isn’t it? But that’s precisely the spirit of this celebration—universal brotherhood wrapped in the essence of Bengal’s Durga Puja.
A Mission to Share Bengal’s Heart with the World
Directors of Lalbaba Rice, Partha Sarathi Nandy and Palash Nandy, who sponsored the event, reflected on the parade’s underlying mission: “Our ethos of universal brotherhood and the language of oneness ingrained in Bengal’s progressive mindset helped us to be on the global platform.” With a goal of elevating Kolkata’s Durga Puja as an international tourism attraction, they hope to make it as globally recognisable as the Thames itself.
Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Director of Heritage Bengal Global, noted, “We want to take to the world our Durga Puja and the festivities surrounding it. To that effect, we are trying to reach out to the British community, not just the diaspora, to be part of the parade.”
This year’s Thames Durga Parade, the third edition of this grand celebration, wasn’t merely about taking the idol on a boat ride down the river. It was about sharing a piece of Bengali culture and its underlying message of unity and oneness with the world.
What’s Next?
With the success of this vibrant display, there’s no doubt that the Thames Durga Parade has carved out a special place in London’s cultural calendar. And if the Thames herself could speak, I daresay she’d be chuffed to bits to welcome Durga each year, bridging not just her famous towers, but also the cultures that float beneath her ancient gaze.
Until next year, here’s to Durga on the Thames—an unforgettable fusion of history, heritage, and a bit of British cheer, all in the name of celebrating a goddess who never fails to bring everyone together.
Picture and News sources The Telegraph
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