14 Best Durga Puja in New York, USA 2024
Durga Puja is the most significant Hindu festival celebrated in the autumn months. Durga puja in New York has the same charm as Kolkata Durga puja. Most of our memories of Durga Puja are symbolized by clear skies with the sound of ‘Dhaak.’
This festival spans ten days, starting from Mahalaya and ending with Dashami. The wide variety of customs and rituals makes it more grand and unique. Let’s discuss all the Durga puja nearby in NY.
Note:- In New York, Durga Puja is celebrated on different days. So please check the individual Durga Puja committee for Puja dates.
List of Top 14 Famous New York Durga Puja Pandals in America
1. East Coast Durga Puja Association Queens, New York
ECDPA was the first organizer of Durga Puja in New York, established in 1970. It’s a non-profit organization located in the borough of Queens. It aims to promote Bengali and Indian traditions in the US Initially, it involved only about 100-200 Bengali inhabitants. The number has now crossed a few thousand, including Indian and Bangladeshi Bengalis.
From Ashtami Anjali to Kumari puja, all the rituals and customs are authentic Bengali. The members and visitors get involved in the festivities for three consecutive days. Dinner arrangements in a Bhog are made for all three days. Cultural events are prepared. Performances by artists entertain the crowd in the evening.
- Location: Gujarati Samaj Hall, 173-15 Horace Harding Expy, Queens, NY 11365
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2. Sanskriti Durga Puja, Buffalo, New York
Sanskriti is a non-profit cultural association propagating Bengali culture through numerous events. The inception of this organization was through Saraswati Puja in 1974-75, up until 1985. This USA club strengthened the community and organized smaller events.
The first major event was the celebration of Durga Puja in 1986. With it, they also started a yearly magazine named Pratibha. Sanskriti Buffalo organizes many events every year like Saraswati Puja, Winter Picnic, Basanta Utsav, Summer Picnic, Durga Puja, Bijoya Sammelani, Lakshmi Puja, and Annual Dinner (for members). The organization mainly aims to instill Indian culture and heritage within the Indians living far from their homeland.
This NY Durga Puja celebration is accompanied by many cultural events across all three days. In the Bijoya Sammilani, an evening filled with dances and songs to celebrate the aftermath of the festivities. Indian artists have graced their stages, like Bhupen Hazarika, Purna Das Baul, and many more.
- Location: HCS Big Hall, 1595 N French Rd, Getzville, NY 14068
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3. New York Kali Mandir Durga Puja Baldwin, New York
New York Kali Mandir is a Hindu religious establishment working as a non-profit organization in Baldwin, New York City. It was initially a Goddess Kali temple on the impression of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple of Kolkata. Soon after, idols of other Hindu Gods and Goddesses were also established.
The association follows the traditional way of Durga Puja. Kali Mandir opens gates for visitors from Sashthi, and the worship continues for five days.
- Location: 614 Seaman Ave, Baldwin, NY 11510, United States
4. Bangladesh Hindu Mandir Flushing, Durga Puja in New York
The Mandir is at Elmhurst, Queens, Founded and run by the Bangladeshi Hindus. The vast Temple of 9,000 sq. ft is a beautiful architectural sight. It’s even furnished with a centralized sound system where the mantras echo.
The organization also takes weekly Sunday classes to promote the Hindu culture among the children. The Mandir is open daily from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Prasad or Bhog is served to all in attendance. Cultural programs are also organized for evenings. Members, along with local artists, take part in the event.
Bangladesh Hindu Mandir, Inc.
- Location: 94-39 44th Avenue Elmhurst, NY 11373
5. New York Sarbojonin Durga Puja Committee, Franklin Square
The organization was founded in 1984 by ten Bengali families who settled in the U.S. The founder members envisioned spreading Indian values and traditions to their children and the forthcoming generations. The organization is also known as NYSDPC (New York Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee).
The Puja is like an occasional gathering at someone’s house. Now, the audience has vastly grown. It’s no longer confined to someone’s home but still carries the homely vibe. They invite both Indian and American artists for their evening cultural programs.
- Location: VFW HALL, Franklin Square, NY
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6. Bangladesh Puja Samiti, Sunnyside, New York
Bangladesh Puja Samiti is a non-profit organization based in Sunnyside, New York. A group of Bangladeshi immigrants formed this Hindu religious association in 1989. They aim to celebrate Hindu culture and propagate it among the Hindus settled in the country.
Their Durga Puja celebrations include delicious food and cultural events similar to Durga Puja in Mumbai. The members take part in all the rituals and customs. Apart from professional artists, we can also observe performances from the community.
- Location: Gujarati Samaj, 17315 Horace Harding Expy, Queens, NY 11365
7. Vedanta Society of New York – Belur Math
Celebrations at Vedanta Society differ from any other Hindu organization in New York. It’s the very first Vedanta Society established by the great Swami Vivekananda. Currently, it’s affiliated with the Ramakrishna Math of India.
Durga Puja is celebrated according to the Ramakrishna Mission’s customs and is devoid of celebratory affairs or cultural events. The place is peaceful and has a serene atmosphere. It’s an ideal place for praying. Devotees often mused about the sense of complacency they received from this place.
- Location: 34 West 71st Street, New York, NY 10023, USA
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8. Jamaica Kali Mandir, NJ
Jamaica Kali Mandir established a relatively newer organization in 2010 to fulfill Hindus’ religious needs in New York. The Temple is open every day for devotees. Like London Durga puja, they organize almost all popular Hindu festivals.
Regular pujas are held daily and monthly functions, celebrating major Hindu festivals. Their ultimate mission is to make the newer generations aware of their culture.
The Durga Puja celebrations have been done here since the beginning. Cultural performances are organized during the three main days of Saptami, Ashtami, and Nabami.
Musical guests, both local and Indian, put on outstanding performances to entertain members and visitors. Bhog is distributed in the afternoon and the evening. All the rituals are performed correctly.
- Location: Jamaica Kali Mandir
9. Om Shakti Mandir Woodside, New York
The Om Shakti temple is everything in one place. Deities of almost all Hindu gods are established here. Regular Puja is done for all. It’s a non-profit organization.
Besides praying, philosophical discussions about Hinduism and religious text reading are organized. People from all faiths can volunteer or learn about Hinduism in the Temple. Temple is open Sunday to Friday – from 9 am to 1 pm & 5 pm to 9 pm, and Saturday- from 9 am to 11 pm.
Community members enthusiastically participate in the Durga puja and celebrate the five days of Puja as one big family. The women coordinate their outfit colors as if signifying a team.
Cultural evenings showcase the singing and dancing talents of the associates. The organizers serve lunch and dinner.
- Location: Om Shakti Mandir, 40, 23/25 72nd St, Woodside, NY 11377, United States
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10. Shri Maha Kali Devi Mandir New York
This Temple was established in 1998 in Brooklyn, New York. The main deity here is Goddess Kali. Other deities worshipped are Kal Bhairava, Suryanarayana, Bhumidevi, Durga, Ganga, Hanuman, Krishna, Lakshmi, Ram, Saraswati, Shiva, Sita, Snake Worship, Ganapati, etc. The Temple is open all day for visitors.
Along with daily worship, the days of Durga Puja are mainly celebrated. People from the nearby community gather to show devotion to the Goddess during this special occasion.
- Location: 170 Van Siclen Ave Brooklyn, NY, US 11207
11. The Hindu Temple Society of North America
The Hindu Temple Society of North America is a religious non-profit institution established on January 26, 1977. It’s the very first traditional Hindu Temple functioning in the USA.
The popular name is Ganesh Temple of Flushing, as Lord Ganesha is the principal deity here. At present, almost all major Hindu deities are worshipped. The temple community also holds classes to teach religious texts like Bhagavad Gita.
The whole Temple has a clean and peaceful atmosphere and is open daily. The restaurant downstairs provides authentic South Indian delicacies.
- Location: 45 – 57 Bowne St, Queens, New York, US 11355
12. Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York
The Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center of New York was established in 1933 by Swami Nikhilananda. It’s a branch of the Ramakrishna Mission of India.
The center maintains a temple in Manhattan (New York, NY) and a summer cottage at Thousand Island Park, New York, where Swami Vivekananda once resided. It’s based on the teachings of the Vedanta System, formulated principally by Sri Ramakrishna.
The spiritual head of this place is known as a Swami. They organize various festivals following the guide of the Ramakrishna mission. Every year, Durga Puja is celebrated in the same manner.
- Location: 17 E 94th St, New York, NY 10128, United States
13. Divya Dham Mandir Durga puja New York
Divya Dham mandir is the biggest temple in New York, US. Swami Jagdishwara Nand Ji Maharaj laid the foundation of this temple in 1993. A model of the Himalayas with the river Ganga as its source.
Divya Dham houses a Shivala with a 30-ton artificial shiv ling. A ‘Shakti Peeth’ comprising 51 forms of Devi lives in the temple. The temple has a Vaishno Devi shrine and Divya Jyoti that burns day and night inside a cave.
The Bengali Hindu community living in NY celebrates Durga Puja every year. Sarbojanin Puja Udjapan Parishad USA organizes Durga Puja at Divya Dham.
- Location: 34-63 56th St, Queens, New York 11377, US
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14. Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad New York
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, New York, Inc. is a non-profit organization in New York City. The organization was incorporated in 2003. The club arranges various Hindu religious festivals, rituals, religious events, picnics, cultural events, and ceremonies. etc., for the Bangladeshi Hindu community living in New York.
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad provides a safe and culturally friendly platform for young and adult Bangladeshi Hindu community members to practice their religion. Most programs are family-based and volunteer support.
- Location: Gulshan Terrace, 59-15 37th Avenue, New York, US 11377
About Durga Puja
The numerous inter-related rituals performed each day during this festival most important ones are as follows:
Bodhan – Sasthi
The ritual of Bodhan is performed on the day of Shashthi. It’s the ritual where mortals of earth wake the Goddess Durga up. Lord Rama first started it according to Valmiki’s Ramayana. He did this to earn blessings from the Goddess to succeed in his fight against Ravana. The ritual is also known as Akalbodhon(sudden awakening).
Nabapatrika Snan – Saptami
On Saptami morning, a banana tree is bathed. The tree is mythically believed to be Lord Ganesha’s wife. Before the bathing of Kalabou, it’s decorated as a married woman in a saree and vermillion. The ritual is performed diligently across Bengal and is believed to provide good fortune to farmers.
Kumari Puja – Astami
A little girl is treated as a human incarnation of Goddess Durga and worshipped. The girl dressed up in a red saree and jewelry. This ritual happens during the first half of Nabami. The Kumari Puja of the Vedanta Society of New York is often live telecasted through television.
Sandhi Puja – Navami
Ashtami is the primary day of Durga puja. The most pivotal rituals of the festivities are performed on this day. Sandhi puja marks the end of Ashtami and the beginning of Nabami.
The name is derived from its unique timing of occurrence. Sandhi means the intersection of the two days. It’s another significant and detail-oriented ritual of the day. During this ritual, the priest offers Goddess Durga one hundred and eight lotuses and light (Diya).
Sindoor Khela and Bisarjan
The last day of Puja, when it’s time to bid farewell, is known as Bijaya Dashami. On this relatively sadder day, goddess Durga departs for her home in heaven; the women play ‘sindoor khela’ while bidding farewell to the almighty. It’s a fun activity where the ladies apply sindoor or vermillion on each other’s cheeks.
Conclusion
Near me, all of these Durga pujas in New York started with the sole objective of continuing the Indian heritage amongst the kids growing up in the U.S. The Indian kids are not the only ones getting educated. The Americans also learn more about Indian culture. It eventually gives the world a rich culture and traditions. Hopefully, with the increasing Indian, especially Bengali, settlement in New York, more and more new Puja will arise.
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