Relief as community saves religious festival
Annamika GhoshA community in Peterborough has come together to save a Hindu festival from being cancelled due to rising costs.
Durga Puja is one of the most important festivals for the Bengali community. It honours the goddess Durga and commemorates her annual journey from her spiritual realm to spend nine days with her mortal devotees.
The celebration, the fifth year it has been held in the city, is run by the Bengali Sanskriti Club which said costs had risen to about £8,000 — raising concerns it could be called off.
Founder Annamika Ghosh said the prospect of cancellation had left her "very upset", but she was "relieved" it had been saved and would take place 16-18 October.
"I was in tears. I spent days feeling stressed and worried," she said.
"In the end, I thought that if nothing worked out, I'd just hold it in my house."
She explained the event had been saved after launching a fundraising campaign.
Over the years, the event has been held over three days at the New Theatre.
This year, to keep costs down, Peterborough Cultural Centre, in Rivergate, has offered a space at a subsidised rate.
About 500 people are expected to attend the celebration, Ghosh said.
The event will feature prayers and rituals around a Durga idol imported from India, alongside traditional food, cultural performances and activities aimed at bringing communities together.
Annamika Ghosh"It's not just a festival, it's a sentiment for us Bengalis," Ghosh said.
"[But] we invite everyone to the festival and have seen that the attendee numbers have grown over the years.
"It is important that our children learn and stay rooted to our traditions, which is a big reason for me to start this.
"But it has also given an opportunity for different communities to come and experience the procession and celebration. It's a great way to share your culture with everyone."
Across other parts of India, the nine-day festival is also celebrated as either Navratri or Dussehra, where Hindus celebrate God Rama's victory over the demon king Ravana, signifying the triumph of good over evil.
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