Dhak beats on the Thames! British Bengalis take Durga Puja to London's iconic river

British Bengalis marked the Durga Puja festival on the River Thames in London on Saturday, with the fifth annual Durga Parade organized by Heritage Bengal Global (HBG). The celebration saw hundreds of participants join in with traditional dhak beats, dancing, and musical performances. A decorated idol of Goddess Durga sailed past iconic London landmarks like Big Ben, the Tower of London, and the London Eye.

The idol, crafted by students from Techno India University in Kolkata, was set afloat on the river as attendees navigated along the Thames. Bihar Tourism Minister Kedar Prasad Gupta attended the event, expressing his best wishes to all British Indians taking part in the celebration. Gupta also invited fellow Indians living in the UK and tourists to visit Bihar, praising the recent development in the state under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

The Durga Parade was initiated in 2022 by HBG, a non-profit organization made up of British Bengali diaspora members. The objective of the event is to unite Durga Puja celebrations from various parts of the world and establish a global platform for the festival. This initiative followed the Unesco declaration of Durga Puja as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.

HBG Director Anirban Mukhopadhyay expressed pride in celebrating this joyous event for the fifth year, with London's famous landmarks providing a perfect backdrop. The parade included musical performances by British Bengali community members and traditional dances, with father-daughter duo Krishnendu and Gungun delivering performances that have gone viral on social media.