13 Best Durga Puja in London, UK 2023
Durga Puja is the biggest festival for Bengalis, held for five days. In London, few Durga pujas are now more than 30 years old. Durga Puja in Kolkata is the hub of this festival, but London Durga Puja is equally famous.
Every year, many Bengali communities of London celebrate this occasion with joy and in a traditional way.
Note:- In London, Durgapuja is celebrated on different days. Please check the nearby individual Durga Puja committee for the Puja dates.
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List of 13 Best London Durga Puja Pandals in the UK Near Me
1. London Camden Durga Puja – Swiss Cottage Library
London Swiss Cottage Library is the oldest puja in London, supported by the London Borough of Camden. Many NRIs in London also provide charity for this. Last year, there were about 30,000 visitors found on the puja ground.
Swiss Cottage Library also conducts a charitable programme–Namani Gange. In this campaign, they try to purify the Ganga River. Their slogan is, “If the Ganga lives, India lives.
They formed the Durga Puja committee in 1963. It is a Non-Profit organisation. Late Tushar Kanti Ghosh, a well-known journalist in Bengal and former editor of the Jugantor and the Amrita Bazar Patrika, established this community.
Location: Swiss Cottage Central Library
Dates: 20th October, 2023 to 24th October, 2023
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2. Panchamukhee Durga Puja in the United Kingdom
A group of Bengalis started Panchamukhee Durga puja in the United Kingdom in 2006. They are celebrating their 16th year of worship.
They promote the Bengali heritage, culture and traditions. It’s a charitable organisation that streams Durga Puja online and conducts many cultural programmes during Durga Puja.
- Location: Harrow Arts Center. 171, Uxbridge Road, London HA5 4EA
- Dates: 20th October, 2023 to 24th October, 2023
3. Wimbledon Cultural Association Durga Puja London
Wimbledon Durga puja started In 2007. This cultural association conducts Durga puja and Kali puja like New York puja committees. Many Bengali people from all over London gather here on this occasion. During those five days, they also arrange evening cultural programmes. The association organises lunch and dinner for the members and participants.
- Location: Saam’s Hall, 6-12 London Road, Morden, Surrey SM4 5BQ
- Dates: 20th October, 2023 to 23rd October, 2023
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4. Sanatan Bengali Association, Palmers Green UK
Sanatan Bengali Association is a non-profit association. They conduct Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Kali Puja, and other Bengali cultural programmes. The association had contributed to the Tsunami Relief efforts of the Port Blair Ramakrishna Mission, devastated by the terrible natural disaster. Local Councillors and MPs also help and join this association.
- Location – Hindu Cultural Society Bhawan, 3 Lyndhurst Avenue, London, N12 0LX
- Dates: 20th October, 2023 to 22nd October, 2023
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5. UTSAB – London Bengali Association Durga puja Orpington
UTSAB London was established in 2010 by a few Bengali friends and families. It’s a vibrant and friendly community. They conduct the worship of Devi Durga, Kali and Saraswati Puja too.
During Durga puja, they organise cultural programmes like dancing and classical and non-classical singing. The community prepares lunch and dinner for association members and participants in their community centre.
- Location: Sanderson Hall, Mickleham Rd, Orpington BR5 2RW.
- Dates: 21st October, 2023 to 23rd October, 2023
6. Hindu Pragati Sangha Mandir, Mile End, U.K
Hindu Pragati Sangha was established in 1977 by a few young Bengalis. Till 1985, they celebrated the Durga puja in a rented hall.
Now, they shifted permanently to the garden of the grove house. In the present day, they made a temple for Devi. The mandir is at the heart of East London, near the Mile-end tube station road.
- Location: 33 Rhonda Grove London E3 5AP, UK.
- Dates: 20th October, 2023 to 24th October, 2023
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7. Prabashi Durga Puja in Hounslow, London
A group of 47 families organises a Durga puja called “Probashi” in Hounslow. It is a non-profit community organisation of the Bengalis in London, aiming to help needy people. Probashi donates blankets, food and shelter to people yearly, and the community also provides wheelchairs to many older adults.
Probashi organises Durga puja at Hounslow. Thousands of people gather to witness this Hindu festival. Music, dance, and free food are available for all the devotees during the festival’s days.
The local children organised musical and dance performances. In 2015, they shipped an idol of the goddess Durga from India. They reported this puja attracts over 7000 visitors every year.
Location: Honeymoon Banqueting Hall (Previously known as Ashiana), 50-52 Bell Road, Hounslow, TW3 3PB
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8. London Sharad Utsav – Bengal Heritage Foundation (BHF)
London Sharad Utsav is an association in West and North-West London. They organised a 4-day annual programme of religious and cultural events at Ealing Town Hall during the puja and spread the Indian cultural heritage through social and cultural events and functions.
Free food was provided by them twice a day on all four days. The association organised the Harrow Music Festival to represent Indian artists, music and dance. An annual cricket league is organised for community cricket teams.
The organisation helps charities like CBC of Croydon, London Kalibari of Harrow, and Sanskriti of Reading. LSU assists Indian charity organisations like Magic Bus, Banchbo, Sabuj Sangha, SEE EFI, and Calcutta Rescue.
Sharad Utsav provides a place of worship. ‘Bengali folk Patachitra painting’ is promoted by them. “Sharad Utsav” means the festival of Autumn. London Sharad celebrates Durga Puja for four days at Ealing Town Hall.
- Location: Ealing Town Hall
- Dates: 20th October, 2023 to 23rd October, 2023
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9. South London Durga Puja UK
South London Durga Puja is very soon celebrating the golden jubilee (50 years), the oldest puja in South London. This committee is a non-profit organisation that has done many charitable programmes worldwide. The organisation also conducts kali puja.
- Location: Chak89, 105 Bond Road, Mitcham, CR4 3HG website
- Dates: 20th October, 2023 to 23rd October, 2023
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10. Aantarik, Bengali Association Bromley Durga Puja
Aantarik was set up by a few Bengali friends living in Bromley in 2015. Their primary aim was to pass on Bengali heritage and culture to the next generations. The association’s core values are tolerance, mutual respect, friendship, rootedness, international peace, and commitment. The famous quote of Rabindranath Tagore- “We live in this world when we love it.” inspires them.
They organise many events like Saraswati Puja, Durga Puja, Anandmela, Dol Khela, and Bijoya Sammilani. Minu Mukherjee (founding member) gives music tuition every Saturday and Sunday.
- Location: Chelsfield Village Hall, Orpington, BR6 7RL
- Dates: 21st October, 2023 to 23rd October, 2023
11. Spandan – Croydon Bengali Association Durga Puja London
Spandan also involved this association in socio-cultural events and to spread Bengali cultures and traditions. Spandan connects people by culture, music & language. The association also conducts Diwali, Holi, Saraswati Puja, etc.
- Location – Krishna Avanti Primary School, Croydon, CR0 4HA
- Dates: 21st October, 2023 to 23rd October, 2023
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12. London Durga Puja Dusserah Association
London Durga Puja Dusserah association organises the oldest puja in London. The association started the first Durga puja in 1963. Dussehra Association will celebrate their 58th puja in 2021.
A young group of Bengali students shared their finances for celebrating Saraswati Puja. One evening during their session, they decided to start celebrating Durga puja, and they needed finances to celebrate a 4-day extended puja on a full scale. So, Members pitched every Indian household for a donation of 10 pounds.
Tushar Kanti Ghosh (editor of Jugantar and Amrita Bazar Patrika) donated the idol of the goddess Durga. The owner of Ambala sweet shop donated fruits and sweets for Prasad. Thus, the first Durga Puja was celebrated at Maryward Centre, Russell Square, in 1963.
Location: Hampstead Town Hall, 213 Haverstock Hill, Belsize Park, London NW3 4QP, UK.
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13. Sanaton Association London
Since 1983, the Sanaton Association has been working to benefit the Bengali communities of Greater London. With over 1500 members, Sanatan is Tower Hamlets’ ancient Hindu organisation. It aims to protect Hindu-Bengali culture and religion. The association helps local and government agencies promote communal harmony and racial equality.
The association organises festivals like Kali Puja, Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, and Poush Parbon. Several events, like the Bengali New Year celebration and a day trip to Broadstairs Beach, are also arranged.
- Location – Mayfair Venue, 1078-1082 High Road, Romford, RM6 4BD
- Dates: 20th October, 2023 to 24th October, 2023
About Durga Puja
Durga puja is a ten-day festival, but the following dates are the most important.
About Shashti
Maha Shashti, on the 6th day of the puja, the worship begins with uncovering the idol’s face. They decorate Maa Durga with jewellery and other ornaments, and this process is called BONDHON.
About saptami and Arati
A banana tree is cleaned with Ganga Water and decorated for this puja. This tree symbolises the wife of Lord Ganesha; this ritual is called Nabapatrika Snan. After the sculpture gets life, the priest does “Prana Pratishta” and is offered food and fruits.
About Durga Ashtami and Pushpanjali
Maa Durga is offered flowers whilst the priest chants Ved mantras. Swami Vivekananda first started Kumari Puja on Durgashtami in Belur Math. The Mission also performs sandhi puja in the evening. In this ritual, priests do Devi’s aarti, and Dhak plays the surroundings.
About Navami / Navratri
Maha Navami is the 2nd last day of the festival, and it’s the most memorable day for the Bengalis on this occasion. However, this most symbolic ritual takes around 4 to 6 hours.
Last day of Durga puja (Dashmi)
The most beautiful part of the puja is Dashami. When Devi Durga returns to Kailash, Women gather, offer sweets, perform rituals, and play with vermilion while wishing each other a happy married life. A special dance called the Dhunuchi dance is performed.
However, they cannot immerse the sculpture due to the rules of the UK. The sculpture is made of MDF and soil. The Puja committee washes the sculpture carefully, removes the Devi outfit, and waits for Maa Durga next year.
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Nomoskar. Very nice to see temple location. Good helps. Also kalkata nice to enjoy puja festival in 1970/71 during the period of libation Bangladesh. I was their. Thanks email address [email protected]
I am glad that you like the post. In future, I wish to write about the Bangladesh Durga puja. Also, have a detailed article about the Kolkata Durga puja. Please check.
A few date information is wrong here. and this map to find your nearest puja – https://www.indianbengalisinuk.net/durga-puja-map
Thanks, I update the list.
Hi Ruma
excellent article especially for Bengalis in UK planning to visiting London during Durga puja.
You are welcome.