Drums of Time: Durga Puja in Christchurch

Bengal is a slice of the Ganges Delta in Eastern India, the Bay of Bengal lapping at her feet and connecting with the majestic Himalayas in the North by a slender neck that went through amputations of the land together with the Punjab in the wake of the British leaving India.

The Bengali immigrant of the 90s (not to be confused with the Bangladeshi) in New Zealand with a distinctive heritage of literature and music, was having to swim against a tidal rip when it came to landing a job whilst also endeavouring to nurture his art and culture.

However, the new Millennia saw a slow but steady stream of young generation Bengali immigrants. In 2003 an effort was made at a community event to organise Durga Puja in a school premise with about 50 to 60 joining in.

Prior to this community event a private household had been celebrating Durga Puja with an evening of prayers followed by music and dinner, both of which identifies a Bengali in his true spirit, whilst also displaying a spirit of inclusivity, with the participants being from all other parts of India and neighbouring countries.

With the growth of young immigrants gaining momentum, the demographics took on a different scale and the need was beginning to be felt for a celebration that would nurture and share the culture in the new Millennia Christchurch that was in the cusp of embracing a multicultural societal environment.

And so, it was in the spring of 2016 a handful of Bengali enthusiasts sprang into action and pulled together our first ever community facing Durga Puja as we see it today and there was no looking back.

The lack of funds and resources, whilst always a major challenge has been mitigated over the time by the kindness of sponsors, the council and most of all the unyielding spirit of a community proud of its rich heritage.

The Resurgence of Spirit after Covid

The web of Covid in the years 2020/21 that consumed millions of precious lives in many parts of the world spared us the severity and intensity in this far-flung corner of the planet and in 2022 we plunged into action again by organizing the kids and mums to again present to the public our culture as we had done in the past.

The heterogeneous population that constitutes todays demographics is the potential playing field of cultural immersion and we chose not to lose the opportunity of weaving a fabric where inclusivity is the narrative.

We share as much of our culture with the society in as much as we expose ourselves to theirs thereby forging what might effectively be a rich heritage in future of this beautiful land we choose to call home.

Organising a public event by maintaining the social distancing proved the resilience and management capability of the Bengali Community in Christchurch which was appreciated by the Mayor of Christchurch.

In this our 11th year of Puja, we are very pleasantly surprised and elated by the council’s acknowledgement of Durga Puja being a part of the Christchurch Heritage festival. As we reflect on this milestone achievement, our mind goes back to the grounds of the preschool where the Puja gathering that had grown from 100 to 1000 reflected a Pluralistic culture irrespective of race and creed.

Durga Puja is as much a religious occasion as it is a social gathering and celebration of a tradition. It was in appreciation of the Ethos that UNESCO recognised the celebration of Durga Puja in Kolkata as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity in December 2021.

Lastly but certainly not the least, we unveiled a new Image of the Durga and her four children in 2025. She has travelled all the way from Kumartuli, Kolkata where she was created by artisans in a neighbourhood where they have practised their art over the generations.

Kumartuli as the place is known, has been carrying a tradition for centuries worthy of a visit, especially when the artisans are at their busiest period -- just before a religious festival.

As we move forward, the emblem of this “heritage” sits in our hearts and minds to preserve to create a better unified world for our future generations.