Visit These Best Places in California to Celebrate Durga Puja 2024 and Other Indian Festivals

Durga Puja is one of the globally celebrated Indian festivals. Be it California, Canberra, or Canada, Indians celebrate the homecoming of Goddess Durga and her children in so grand way as if there is no tomorrow. Especially Bengalis don’t mind borders or bounds when it comes to nourishing their cultural roots and celebrating their festive traditions this time of the year. With Indian Bengalis growing in numbers, California has become home to some of the best Durga Puja events in USA.

As the beating of dhak has started resonating in the air; the fragrance of Sheuli flowers has started filling the atmosphere, Indian Eagle – a most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians in USA – recommends the following best places for Durga Puja 2024 events in California.

Los Angeles Durga Puja: Dakshini Bengali Association, CA 

Dakshini Bengali Association of California hosts one of the biggest Durga Puja events 2024 in the Great Los Angeles Area. A nonprofit, charitable, cultural organization; Dakshini Bengali Association, California, has a great lineup of events including live concerts to enthrall the audience during the celebration. Among the performing artists on the guest list is Richa Sharma, an Indian playback singer, who will perform on October 12. Another live performance by Prashmita Paul and Dipaayan Banerjee is scheduled on October 11. Both are ticketed shows at Dakshini.  

• Dates: October 11, 12 and 13
• Venue: Torrance High School, 2200W Carson St, Torrance CA | Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, Manhattan Beach Boulevard, LA County
• Contact: Communications@dakshini.org, +1 310-895-6094

Also Read: Amazing Things to Know about Durga Puja

Bay Area Prabasi Durga Puja 2024

Bay Area Prabasi, a nonprofit Bengali Cultural Organization in Alameda County, is hosting the biggest Durga Puja celebration in North America this year as a mark of the community’s 51st anniversary. Famed for one of the oldest and best Durga Puja events in California, Bay Area Prabasi is known for its simplicity and sophistication rather than extravagance.

On October 11, Bay Area Prabasi Durga Puja presents Chandalika, a gripping dance drama by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The evening of October 12 will rock with an enthralling performance ‘Jai Ho’ by Sukhwinder Singh from India. The Bengalis’ love for retro Bollywood music will be brimming over during a live performance by Trijoy and Chandrika. The performance titled ‘Down the Memory Lane’ is a tribute to Lata Mangeshkar, Bappi Lahiri, Asha Bhonsle, Manna Dey, and Hemanta Mukherjee.

The cultural celebration will culminate with Cactus’ Reunion on the Sunday evening, October 13.

• Dates: October 11, 12 and 13
• Venue: Santa Clara Fairgrounds, 131 Old Tully Road, San Jose CA 95111
• Contact: info@prabasi.org, 626-277-7932
• Website: Prabasi.org

BASC Durgotsav 2024, Southern California

BASC, the Bengali Association of Southern California, hosts one of the best Durga Puja celebrations in California. A nonprofit philanthropic organization in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, BASC is among the few best places to catch up with Indians and indulge in Bengali culture during Durga Puja away from home. 

On October 18, the first day of the puja, the Bengali Association of Southern California will present an unforgettable evening with Nandy Sisters, the social media sensation duo in playback singing. A live performance by Sukhwinder Singh will make you grove to hit Bollywood numbers on October 19.

• Dates: October 18, 19 and 20
• Venue: Bridges Auditorium, 450 N College Way, Claremont, CA 91711
• Contact: info@bascweb.org, 714-342-5266, +1 626-390-1224
• Website: bascweb.org

Also Read: How Goddess Kali Came to California from Kolkata

Pashchimi Durga Puja 2024, Bay Area

Wondering where to celebrate Durga Puja in SF Bay Area? One of the most popular California Durga puja events 2024, Bay Area Pashchimi Durga Puja is an unmatched celebration of Bengali culture and traditions. Founded in 2004 as a nonprofit organization, Pashchimi has teamed up with Children International for this puja. Children International strives to provide underprivileged girl children with seamless access to education in India. Pashchimi Durga Puja is known for its adherence to age-old traditions. October 22 is a DJ and dandiya night at Pashchimi.  

• Dates: October 9 to 13
• Venue: Oasis Palace Restaurant, 35145 Newark Blvd, CA
• Contact: contact@pashchimi.org, 408-883-5304
• Website: Pashchimi.org

Santa Clara WomenNow Durga Puja, SF Bay Area

Of Bay Area Durga Puja events 2024, WomenNow TV’s Durga Utsav in Santa Clara is a unique, all-women celebration. Inspired by the idea of celebrating the collective power of women in real, WomenNow TV’s CEO Ena Sarkar and her team organize the festivity every year. Ena Sarkar, the founder and CEO of WomenNow TV, a South Asian talk show, is at the helm of this California Durga Puja. Their celebration starts with pushpanjali on Maha Ashtami and ends with sindoor khela on Maha Dashami. The outdoor event features shopping markets, street food stalls, and cultural activities including Dandiya nights.

Read our exclusive article on Santa Clara Durga Utsav by WomenNow TV.

The traditional festivity will follow a Tauba Tauba Dandiya evening on October 11. It is a ticketed event and the entry fee is $10 per person. Since festivities and revelry go hand in hand, WomenNow TV organizes a DJ night on the evening of October 12 for its members and other attendees.

• Dates: October 12 and 13
• Venue: 617 Jackson Ave, San Jose, CA
• Contact: info@womennow.tv, +1 510-364-4271

Los Angeles Durga Puja 2024: Valley Bengali Community

Valley Bengali Community’s Durga puja is another grand celebration in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Musical evenings are a highlight of their event. The 9th Durgotsav celebration by Valley Bengali Community will see gripping performances by none other than Usha Uthup and Cactus band from Kolkata. Usha Uthup, who needs no introduction, and Cactus will set the stage on fire with electrifying rock music on October 4 and 5 respectively. Both are ticketed programs. You can enjoy classic and contemporary music, from Rabindra Sangeet to retro numbers to folk music and Bollywood hits.

• Dates: October 4 to 6
• Venue: Birmingham Community Charter High School, 17000 Haynes St, Van Nuys, CA 91406
• Contact: vbc@valleybengali.org, 818-564-6592
• Website: Durga.valleybengali.org

SAIKAT Durga Puja 2024, San Diego

Among Southern California Durga Puja events, SAIKAT Durgotsav 2024 has a great lineup of cultural programs, including a melodious evening, a dance drama, a stage play and other performing arts by different age groups. SAIKAT, the Bengali Association of San Diego, is an active philanthropic organization volunteering hours for and contributing to charities. On the occasion of Durga Puja, SAIKAT releases an annual magazine wherein their community members’ literary and creative writeups find space.

• Dates: October 12 and 13
• Venue: San Pasqual High School, San Diego
• Contact: ec@saikat.org
• Website: Saikat.org

Also Check: What Makes Travel to Kolkata Cheaper and Better

Baybasi Durga Puja 2024, Foster City

For the past 15 years, BayBasi has been organizing one of the best Durga Puja events in San Francisco Bay Area. Their handmade pandal set against the panoramic view of a lagoon in the backdrop is a must-see attraction. A leading non-profit organization of Bengalis in Foster City, BayBasi has a crowd-pulling schedule of cultural programs including dandiya and DJ night on October 4, the first day of the celebration.

• Dates: October 4, 5 and 6
• Venue: REC Center Meadows, Foster City, CA 94404
• Contact: +1 650-489-8139 | baybasi@baybasi.us
• Website: Baybasi.us

Santa Barbara Vedanta Temple Durga Puja 2024

The Vedanta Society of Southern California organizes Durga Puja at the Santa Barbara Temple every year. Founded in 1956 and consecrated to Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the Santa Barbara Vedanta Temple deserves a mention for its absolute devotion to Goddess Durga in compliance with the rituals and traditions followed by Belur Math in Bengal. Unlike other Durga Puja events in California, the Santa Barbara Vedanta Temple’s Durga Puja celebration is known for its simplicity. The serene location of the temple in a scenic mountain range overlooking the Pacific Ocean is another pull.

• Dates: October 10 to 13
• Venue: 927 Ladera Ln, Montecito, CA 93108
• Contact: santabarbara@vedanta.org, 805 969 2903
• Website: Vedanta.org/santa-barbara-temple/

NorCal Bengali Association Prothoma Durga Puja, SF Bay Area

The Northern California Bengali Association of Silicon Valley is one of the best places to enjoy Durga Puja events in the SF Bay Area. More than 100 members of the community prepare the culinary offering (bhog) for Goddess Durga and her children. Various cultural performances including dhunuchi naach and Prangon dance are lined up as part of the schedule at NorCal Prothoma Durga Pujo 2024. The women members of NorCal Bengali Association will perform a Prangon dance to welcome Maa Durga.

Papon, a popular playback singer and composer from Mumbai, will lend cheers to the Durga Pujo celebration by Prothoma, NorCal Bengali Association, on October 12. Fakira, a local music band, will churn out groovy numbers to a live audience on October 13.

• Dates: October 11, 12 and 13
• Venue: HUSD Performing Arts Center, Hayward, 2390 Panama Street, CA 94545
• Contact: +1 408-940-6846
• Website: Norcalba.org