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Durga Puja

About Durga Puja

Durga Puja, a UNESCO inscribed cultural heritage

Durgapuja in Kolkata, West Bengal , India has been inscribed by UNESCO in its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/durga-puja-in-kolkata-00703) (link to a short video: https://www.unesco.org/archives/multimedia/document-5613)
It is an annual festival that is celebrated in September or October, it marks the ten-day worship of the Hindu mother-goddess Durga.. It is celebrated by more than 150 million people worldwide.
Celebrated throughout the globe (EU – 200, US/Canada – 200, UK – 50 Approx)
Celebrates the Victory of Good (Mother DURGA) over Evil (Mahishasura, the buffalo demon)
Celebrates the Awakening of Women Power.
As a ten-day celebration, Durga Puja represents the collective worship of the Hindu Goddess Durga. During this time, masterfully designed clay models of the Goddess are worshipped in “pandals” or pavilions where communities get together and celebrate.
Several folk music, culinary, craft, and performing arts traditions add to the dynamism of this celebration.
Over the years, the Indian city of Kolkata has emerged as the geographical and cultural heart of the national and global celebrations of the festival.

Durga Puja in Netherlands

The history of Durga Puja in Netherlands dates to more than 20 years, when the festivals were organized in-house by a small group of group pf Bengalis in Benelux region

The first public Durga puja committee was established in 2010 in Rijswijk

Since then, the festivities have expanded to other regions in Netherlands, and in 2022, there were 5 Durga Puja celebrations all over Netherlands

2023 is the first year that will mark Almere in the Durga Puja map

Cultural Significance

Commonly known as Sarodotsav (The Autumn Festival), Durga Puja has been unique in a dozen ways, but most importantly in being more of a social event than a devotional or religious one.
Addition of non-religious elements gives the festival a unique feature with cultural events an integral part of the celebration
It promotes the knowledge and skills necessary for traditional artisanship and cultural practices transmitted across generations, §performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, and knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe.
The festivities are marked by cities and small towns converting to public art galleries and often described as the greatest public art show in the world
Tens of thousands of artists, crafts people and workers put together this wondrous show every year