Durga Puja is one of the grandest and most-awaited Indian festivals in October 2023. It is a most spectacular celebration in the Indian state of Bengal. However, the festival is celebrated with equal enthusiasm wherever Bengalis are in the world. About two dozen of Durga Puja events in New Jersey and New York transform the northeast cost into a mini Bengal with cultural exuberance this time of the year. Bengali associations across New York and New Jersey started preparations months ago, so that the festivity does not fall short of joy and happiness in their adopted home. They can live away from home, but can’t survive without the blessings of Maa Durga, the bliss of bhoger kichudi, the beats of dhak, and the ecstasy of dunuchi naach.
Travel Beats, a leading overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, recommends some of the best places for Durga puja 2023 celebrations in New York and New Jersey. “Elo re Dugga elo re…”
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Sanskriti Durga Puja 2023: Buffalo, New York
Sanskriti, a Bengali cultural association in Buffalo, is one of the best and oldest Durga Puja celebrations in New York. Founded in 1974-75, the Sanskriti Durga Puja is a cultural platform for the present generation of Bengali Diaspora in the northeast US to have a tryst with their heritage, literature, and traditions thousands of miles away from India. Sanskriti also celebrates other festivals with equal enthusiasm. Their Durga Puja celebration was graced by such renowned performing artists as Purna Das Boul and Bhupen Hazarika in the years gone by.
- Dates: October 20, 21, 22
- Venue: Hindu Cultural Society, 1595 N French Road, Getzville, NY 14068
- Contact: president@buffalosanskriti.org, +1 716-331-7657
- Website: Buffalosanskriti.org
East Coast Durga Puja Association, New York
The East Coast Durga Puja Association (ECDPA), the oldest Bengali community in North America, is recognized for their celebration as the best of all New York Durga puja events. Mayor Eric Adams presented them with a citation in 2019 recognizing their contribution towards creating a platform for themselves and other ethnic communities in the borough of Brooklyn. Like previous years, the ECDPA Durga Puja 2023 has a lineup of cultural programs, including a kids talent show.
- Dates: October 14 and 15
- Venue: Gujarat Samaj Hall, 17315 Horace Harding Expy, Queens, NY 11365
- Contact: (516) 308-2246 or ECDPANY@gmail.com
- Website: ECDPAnewyork.com
New York Kali Mandir Durga Puja, Baldwin
One of the most traditional Durga Puja events in New York is organized by New York Kali Mandir in Baldwin. Inspired by the Dakshineswar Kali Temple of Kolkata, NYKM is home to Goddess Kali worshiped by Bengalis and other Indian communities. Founded in 2005, the temple doubles up as a community organization and helps preserve the age-old Bengali cultural traditions in New Yok Metropolitan Area. Located close to NY JFK International Airport, the temple has a well-stocked library for all age groups. Those interested in volunteering can serve the temple this Durga Puja.
- Dates: October 21 to 23
- Venue: 614 Seaman Ave, Baldwin, NY, 11510
- Contact: nykmdevotee@gmail.com, +1 516-771-5254
- Website: Nykalimandir.org
Also read: Sanyal Brothers Offer Best Kolkata Street Food with Chai in New York
Durga Puja at Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center of New York
Durga Puja at the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Center of New York for the followers of the Ramakrishna order is among the best Durga puja celebrations in the Greater New York Area. Founded in 1933, the center organizes the puja to worship the Divine Mother and seek Her blessings for the humankind. The chanting of sacred hymns and the singing of devotional songs in chorus are the mainstay of their celebration without pomp and in strict adherence to the principles laid out by Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Missions worldwide.
- Dates: October 22
- Venue: 17 E 94th St, New York, NY 10128
- Contact: (212) 534-9445
- E-mail: rvcenternewyork@gmail.com
- Website: Ramakrishna.org
East Coast Cultural Association Durga Puja, NY
The East Coast Cultural Association, one of the youngest communities in New York, is planning a large-scale Durga puja event this year to mark its second anniversary. Founded in 2022, the non-profit organization celebrates every event significant to Bengali culture in a grand way, bringing together the Bengali community in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut areas. Their Durga puja celebration stands for cultural integrity and camaraderie. Their event schedule includes a Bollywood evening on OCT 20 with singer Vaishali Mhade of ‘pinga’ song fame in Bajirao Mastani. The ECCA Durga Puja organizers are yet to announce other cultural programs.
- Dates: October 20, 21, 22
- Venue: Gujarati Samaj Hall, 17315 Horace Harding Expy, Queens, NY 11365
- Contact: eastcoastcultural@gmail.com
- Website: Eccany.com
Utsov Inc. Durga Puja 2023, Edison NJ
Utsov Inc. is known for one of the biggest Durga Puja celebrations in Edison, New Jersey. Utsov Inc. Durga Puja 2023 in East Brunswick has a number of ‘wow’ factors – delectable Bengali food, Sindhoor Kela, cultural programs, shopping stalls, art competition for kids and Dhunuchi dance competition for adults. Online or offline registration is mandatory to enter the venue. Raj Burman, a talented Hindi and Bengali artist (who won the “Best Bengali Playback Singer” in the Tele Cine Awards) will be entertaining the audience on a musical evening at the Utsov Inc Durga Puja in Edison.
- Dates: October 21 and 22
- Contact: 732 648 7461 or 313 338 8678, utsov@utsov.org
- Venue: Jo Ann Magistro Performing Arts Center, 200 Rues Lane, East Brunswick, NJ
- Website: Utsov.org
Also read: Indian Food is a Pure Bliss at This Temple Kitchen in New York
Garden State Puja Committee: Durga Puja in New Jersey
One of the oldest and biggest Durga Puja events in New Jersey is organized by the Bengalis of Garden State Puja Committee, Jersey City. GSPC Durga Utsov 2023 will celebrate its 42nd anniversary over foot-tapping numbers of rock bands, Lakkhichhara and the Anupam Roy Band. Nostalgic renditions of Rabindra Sangeet by Sahana Bajpaie, a contemporary vocalist, will lend the vibes of Kolkata to the venue during the festivity.
Bongobhoj – a traditional Bengali food fare – is the mainstay of their celebration. Garden State Puja Committee, Jersey City is a non-profit community organization bridging the gap between their life in the US and their roots in Bengal, and providing gharoa paribesh for all festive celebrations. The funds it raises through the concert will be used for charitable and educational causes.
- Dates: October 21 and 22
- Venue: William L. Dickinson High School, 2 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
- Contact: +1 201-993-4577 | info@gardenstatepuja.org
- Website: gspcnj.com
New Jersey Kallol Durga Puja 2023
Among the Durga Puja events in New Jersey, Kallol Durga Puja is an engaging celebration every year. Among the oldest Bengali organizations in the US, Kallol has grown from 24 members to a few hundreds now. Multicultural programs including musical performances by eminent artists from India are integral to their Sharodiya celebration. Prithibi rock band is all set to enthrall the audience with their electrifying performance on Friday, while Lopamudra Mitra, Joy Sarkar and Nirmalya Roy will take over the stage on Saturday.
Kallol Durga Puja 2023 will culminate with foot-tapping and soulful numbers by popular artists Shaan and Sandeep Bhattacharjee India. The four-day festivity is an absolute cultural and musical extravaganza at Kallol in Somerset, NJ.
- Dates: October 20 to 23
- Venue: Ukranian Cultural Center, 135 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, New Jersey 08873
- Contact: 732.290.5218
- Website: Kallol.com
Also read: Why Bengal worships living goddesses during Durga puja
Alor Benu Durga Puja in Edison, NJ
The ‘Ekchala’ style Durga idol is the main attraction of this simple, humble celebration by a few Bengali families in Edison. This is more a gharoa (family) puja than a community puja. The festive evenings from 20 to 22 October will see various cultural indulgences by the organizers and their families. The puja schedule is chock-a-block with traditional rituals from the morning till family dinner in the evening.
- Dates: October 20 to 22
- Venue: 2 Farmhaven Avenue, Edison, NJ 08820
- Contact: aamantran@aalorbenu.net
New Jersey Ananda Mandir Durga Puja 2023
Durga Puja at Ananda Mandir in New Jersey is a most traditional one. Hundreds of New Jersey Indians throng the shrine to immerse themselves in festive revelries for five days. New Jersey Ananda Mandir is one of the few Hindu temples in USA that follows the Bengali calendar precisely for celebrating Durga Puja and other festivals. The temple that also doubles up as an Indian cultural center was commissioned in 1995 and completed in 2003. You may need to pre-register online for a slot. On successful booking of a slot, you would receive a confirmation email, which you can show to the volunteers at the temple complex.
- Dates: October 21 to 23
- Venue: 269 Cedar Grove Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873-5212
- Contact: (732) 873-9821 or info@anandamandir.org
- Website: Anandamandir.org
Garden State Cultural Association: Plainfield, NJ
Among Durga puja events 2023 in New Jersey, Garden State Cultural Association (GSCA) is in the 32nd year of the celebration. GSCA, a nonprofit Indian American organization of Bengalis in Plainfield, leaves no stone unturned to make Durga Puja a grand get-together of not only Bengalis but also other Indian communities over delicious food, shopping and cultural entertainment. The interesting lineup of events include talent shows and drawing competitions.
Registration is compulsory to attend the event. You can register on their website given below. Popular Indian singers Papon and Aditi Munshi are among the eminent guests this year. Kumari Puja is a not-to-be-missed event at GSCA Durga Puja in New Jersey.
- Dates: October 28 and 29
- Venue: Plainfield High School, 950 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060
- Contact: (908) 754-3079 or contact@gsca.us
- Website: web.gsca.us
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Bengali Cultural Society Durga Puja 2023: South Jersey
Of Durga puja events in New Jersey, Bengali Cultural Society’s celebration is a lot more than food, fun and frolic. Rather, it mirrors the rich cultural and literary heritage of Bengal on the American soil. Founded in 1978, Bengali Cultural Society is not just one of the oldest Bengali diaspora associations, but a philanthropic organization too. They publish their own magazine Sanskriti every year and run a Bengali language school for their young ones and those interested in learning the language. Each day of the puja will culminate in an authentic Bengali community dinner.
- Dates: October 27 to 28
- Venue: Indian Cultural Center, 820 NJ-73, Marlton, NJ 08053
- Contact: info@bcssj.org
- Website: Bcssj.org
New Jersey Bharat Sevashram Sangha Durga Puja
The New Jersey chapter of Bharat Sevashram Sangha celebrates Durga Puja to worship the Supreme Power of the universe. The chanting of slokas and hymns reverberates in the air of the ashram temple on the five days of Durga Puja. Devotees can soak in numinous vibes that the ambience is rife with this time of the year. Devotees are required to pre-register for the Durga puja event at Bharat Sevashram Sangha in New Jersey.
- Dates: October 20 to 24
- Location: 3490 Route-27 Kendral Park, New Jersey 08824
- Contact: 732 422 8880/ 347 735 2984 | devotees@sevashramsangha.org
- Website: sevashramsangha.org
Dakshineswar Ramakrishna Sangha Adyapeath Durga Puja
Adyapeath in Edison, an extension of the Dakshineswar Ramakrishna Sangha Adyapeath in Kolkata, is a must visit for its atmosphere full of divine bliss during Durga puja festivities. Adya Maa (Primordial Kali) is the presiding deity of the temple where ‘Ekchala’ styled Durga idol is worshiped in the sabeki way. Established in 1995 in New Jersey, Adyapeath is dedicated to the service to the divine and humanity.
- Dates: October 20 to 25
- Location: Kiddie Keep Well Camp, 35 Roosevelt Dr., Edison, NJ 08837
- Contact: 732-249-7077
- Website: AdyapeathUSA.org
Trinayani Durga Puja in Plainsboro, New Jersey
This is one of the most-anticipated Durga Puja celebrations in New Jersey. A not-for-profit organization established in 2022 with the aim to promote India’s rich art and culture, Trinayani’s inaugural Durga Puja was the first such event to worship an in-house protima (idol) created by the community members. It was also named third on the list of the best 25 Durga Pujas in Tristate in 2022. This year, Trinayani Durga Puja will give you a memorable year through cultural programs and Bengali feasts. The musical acts to be performed by famous urban folk music group, Bhoomi (on 28th), and Sounak Chattopadhyay, new-gen singing sensation, (on 29th) will immerse you in classic and folk tunes of Bengal. Registrations are already open on their website.
- Dates: October 28 and 29
- Venue: Community Middle School, Plainsboro Township, NJ, USA
- Contact: trinayaninj2022@gmail.com
- Website: www.vibrnz.com/org/trinayani
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