Durga Puja Celebration in UK

If you are searching for “Durga Puja in the UK”, you are probably interested in joining the celebration or finding the best events nearby. This guide will introduce you to the traditions, community events and cultural activities that make this festival so special. These include concerts, food stalls and performances of traditional Indian dance and music.

Durga Puja is one of the most important festivals for Bengali communities in the UK. Over the years, it has gained popularity in many other countries as well. In the UK, large celebrations attract thousands of people every year.

Organized by cultural associations and community groups, the festival features beautifully crafted idols, traditional rituals, and cultural programs. Pandal decorations often reflect themes from Indian mythology or contemporary culture, creating a festive atmosphere.

Durga Puja is a grand festival celebrating the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. The celebration typically spans five days, each marked by specific rituals, cultural festivities, and community gatherings.

Here’s an overview of how it is celebrated:

• Maha Shashti (Day 1): The goddess is welcomed with the unveiling of her idol and the chanting of mantras. Traditional drumming (dhak) and conch shell sounds mark the beginning of the festivities.
• Maha Saptami (Day 2): The rituals begin with the Nabapatrika Puja, where nine plants symbolizing the goddess’s form are worshipped. Devotees offer flowers, incense, and prayers to the goddess.
• Maha Ashtami (Day 3): This is the most significant day, featuring the Sandhi Puja, performed at the exact moment when Ashtami transitions to Navami. The goddess is worshipped in her fierce form, symbolizing her victory over evil. Many devotees also perform Anjali (offering prayers with flowers).
• Maha Navami (Day 4): Devotees celebrate with more prayers, offerings, and a focus on community feasting (bhog), where sacred food is distributed to everyone.
• Vijaya Dashami (Day 5): The idols are immersed in water (visarjan), symbolizing the goddess’s return to her heavenly abode. Devotees bid farewell with teary eyes, smearing vermillion (sindoor) as a sign of blessings, especially among married women in the Sindoor Khela ritual.

The festival is widely celebrated in India, especially in West Bengal, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Odisha, Delhi and Pune. It is also celebrated in other parts of the world such as New York, Japan, Australia, New Jersey, Switzerland, London and Bangladesh, where it is celebrated with grand events.

List of  Durga Puja Events in United Kingdom

1. London Camden Durga Puja – Swiss Cottage Library

• Location: Swiss Cottage Library, London NW3 3HA
• Date: 09th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

2. Panchamukhee Durga Puja in the United Kingdom

• Location: Harrow Arts Center, 171 Uxbridge Road, London HA5 4EA
• Date: 09th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

3. Wimbledon Cultural Association Durga Puja in London

• Location: Saams Hall, 6-12 London Road, SM4 5BQ
• Date: 04th October, 2024 to 07th October, 2024

4. Sanatan Bengali Association, Palmers Green UK

• Location: 8 Caxton Road, Wood Green, N22 6TB, London, England
• Date: 11th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

5. UTSAV – London Bengali Association Durga Puja Orpington

• Location: Sanderson Hall, Mickleham Road, Orpington, BR5 2RW
• Date: 11th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

6. Hindu Pragati Sangha Mandir, Mile End, UK

• Location: 33 Rhondda Grove, London E3 5AP, United Kingdom
• Date: 08th October 2024 to 12th October 2024, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.

7. Spandan – Croydon Bengali Association Durga Puja London

• Location: Clock Tower, Croydon, CR0 1NX
• Date: 11th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

8. ADDA – Slough Group Durga puja in the United Kingdom

• Location: Slough Cricket Club, Upton Ct Rd, Slough SL3 7LT
• Date: 10th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

9. Milton Keynes Ananda Club Durga Puja the United Kingdom

• Location: Caldecotte Xperience, 366 Simpson Road, Milton Keynes, MK6 3AG, UK
• Date: 09th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

10. Bristol Durga Puja in the United Kingdom

• Location: Gandhi Hall, Bristol Hindu Temple, 163 Church Rd, Bristol BS5 9LA, UK
• Date: 09th October 2024 to 12th October 2024

11. Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre, United Kingdom

• Location: Vedanta House, Blind Ln, Wooburn Green, Bourne End SL8 5LF, United Kingdom

12. Royal Berkshire Bengali Association (RBBA)

• Location: Burnham Cricket Club
• Date: 09th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

13. London Durga Puja Dusserah Association

• Location: Hampstead Town Hall, Belsize Park, London
• Date: 09th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2204

14. Bengali Cultural Association (UK) / Upton Park Durga puja

• Location: Sir James Hawkey Hall, 54 Broomhill Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 0BG
• Date: 09th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

15. Aadi Shakti Sarbojonin Durgotsav

• Location: Cranford Suite, Cranford Community College, High St, Hounslow, TW5 9PD
• Date: 11th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

16. Aberdeen Durga Puja

• Location: Hilton Community Centre, Hilton Road, Aberdeen, AB24 4HS
• Date: 08th October, 2024 to 12th October, 2024

17. BAMNE, Liverpool Puja

• Location: Silvestrian Suite, Silvester Street, Liverpool, L58SE 
• Date: 09th October, 2024 to 12th October, 2024

18. BCAP Durgotsav, Peterborough

• Location: Longthorpe Village Hall, 295 Thorpe Road, Peterborough, PE3 6LU
• Date: 11th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

19. Belfast Durga Puja and Dusshera Festival

• Location: Shaftesbury Community Centre, 97 Balfour Avenue, Belfast, BT7 2EW

20. Bengali Association Midlands

• Location: Bengali Association Hall, Heath Street, Winson Green( Entrance:- Cuthbert Road )Birmingham, B18 4EE
• Date: 09th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

21. Bengali Cultural Society Reading

• Location: Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, Chalfont CI, RG6 4GD
• Date: 09th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

22. Bristol Puja Committee Sarbojonin Durgotsav
23. Cambridge Indian Cultural Society (ICS)

• Location: Netherhall School, Queen Edith’s Way, Cambridge CB1 8NN
• Date: 10 October 2024, Thursday: Sasthi (6:30 pm – 10 pm), 11 October 2024, Friday: Saptami (5:30 pm – 7 pm), 12 October 2024, Saturday: Ashtami (5 pm – 6 pm), 13 October 2024, Sunday: Nabami & Dashami (5:30 pm – 7:30 pm).

24. Cardiff Puja – Wales Puja Committee

• Location: Temple of Peace, King Edward the Vll Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AP
• Date: 09th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

25. Chelmsford Durga Pujo by Sankalpo

• Location: Writtle Christian Centre, Church Lane, Writtle, Chelmsford, CM1 3EN
• Date: 11th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

26. Chelmsford Hindu Society Temple

• Location: Central Park, Chelmsford, Essex

27. Edinburgh Durgotsav by SABASH

• Location: Cramond Kirk Hall, 16, Cramond Glebe Road, Cramond, Edinburgh, EH4 6NS
• Date: 08th October, 2024 to 12th October, 2024

28. Essex Indians Durga Puja

• Location: Gidea Park & Romford Cricket Club, Romford, UK
• Date: 09th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

29. Hampshire Puja and Cultural Association

• Location: The Hilt, Chandler’s Ford, Southampton, SO53 5NP
• Date: 11th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

30. Leeds Durgapuja and Diwali Association

• Location: Leeds Hindu Temple, Leeds LS6 1RF, United Kingdom
• Date: 9 October 2024, Wednesday: Sasthi (6:30 pm – 10:00 pm), 10 October 2024, Thursday: Saptami (10:30 am – 10:00 pm), 11 October 2024, Friday: Ashtami (10:30 am – 10:00 pm), 12 October, Saturday: Nabami & Dashami 2024 (10:30 am – 9:30 pm)

31. Leicester Probashi Durga Pujo

• Location: Geeta Bhavan, 70 Clarendon Park Road, Leicester, LE2 3AD, UK
• Date: 10th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

32. Luton Durga Puja

• Location: Dallow Learning Community Centre 
• Date: 08th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

33. Manchester GMBHCA

• Location: Gandhi Hall, Brunswick Road, Withington, Manchester M20 4QB

34. Midland Indian Association Durga Puja

• Location: 57-59, Lower Forster Street, Walsall, WS1 1XB
• Date: 09th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

35. Nabarun Hindu Bengali Cultural Association​

• Location: Kings Heath Community Centre, 8 Heathfield Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7DB

36. Newcastle NEEBPA

• Location: Ground Floor Hall of the Hindu Temple, 172 West Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE4 9QB

37. Nirmal Mukherjee Puja, Wembley

• Location: MYCA Hall, 20A Rosemead Avenue, Wembley HA9 7EE (private puja)

38. North London Prabhati Sangha (NLPS)

• Location: Chestnuts Community Centre, 280 St Ann’s Road, London N15 5BN
• Date: 08th October, 2024 to 12th October, 2024

39. Nottingham Sai Dham Durga Puja

• Location: Sai Dham Nottingham

40. Proyas Durga Puja in Bedfordshire

• Location: Chipperfield Village Hall, The Common, Kings Langley, WD4 9BS
• Date: 5th October, 2024

41. Sanatan Association London

• Location: Mayfair Venue, 1078-1082 High Road, Romford, RM6 4BD

42. Sanskriti Bedford

• Location: Great Barford Village Hall, 6 Fishers Close, Great Barford, Bedford, MK44 3JL

43. Sarbojanin Baba Lokenath Association

• Location: Southend Road, East Ham, London E6 2AA
• Date: 08th October, 2024 to 12th October, 2024

44. Sree Durga Mandir Trust Manchester

• Location: Jain Community Centre, 667-669 Stockport Road, Longsight, Manchester, M12 4QE
• Date: 08th October, 2024 to 12th October, 2024

45. UKHCA Sharodiya Durga Puja

• Location: Chiswick Town Hall, Heathfield Terrace, W4 4 Chiswick, UK
• Date: 10th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

46. Prabashi Durga Puja in Hounslow, London

• Location: Honeymoon Banqueting Hall (Previously known as Ashiana), 50-52 Bell Road, Hounslow, TW3 3PB

47. London Sharad Utsav – Bengal Heritage Foundation ( BHF )

• Location: Pitzhanger Manor Ealing
• Date: 11th October, 2024 to 14th October, 2024

48. South London Durga Puja UK

• Location: Chak 89 105 Bond Rd, Mitcham CR4 3HG 
• Date: 10th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

49. Aantarik, Bengali Association, Bromley

• Location: Chelsfield Village Hall, Orpington BR6 7RL
• Date: 10th October, 2024 to 13th October, 2024

50. Sutton Bengali Assosiation

• Date: 10th October – 12th October
• Address: St Helier, Carshalton, Morden SM4 6BL

51. Sanatan Bengali Association – North London

• Date: 11th October – 13th October
• Address: Hindu Cultural Society Bhawan, 3 Lyndhurst Avenue, N12 0LX