Three-day autumn event in Auckland in the atmosphere of Bengal's indigenous and folk culture in search of roots

The Autumn Durga Festival was held for the second year in Auckland, New Zealand, organized by the Bangladeshi expatriate organization 'Sampriti'. A large number of Bangladeshi expatriates, as well as people of different languages ​​and cultures, participated in the three-day event at the Freeman's Bay Community Hall in Auckland. The festival turned into a gathering of expatriates through religious rituals, cultural performances and mutual goodwill.

The main theme of this year's Durga Puja was 'Roots'. The festival atmosphere was decorated around the traditions of Bengal's indigenous and folk culture. The community hall was beautifully decorated to highlight the roots, traditions and cultural identity of Bengalis in the diaspora. Various aspects of Bengali culture and tradition were evident throughout the event.

Various organizations participated in the Durga festival with stalls selling their products. Along with this, a raffle draw was organized for the visitors. There were regular religious rituals, distribution of prasad and a feast. The festival venue became lively and joyful with the music of dhak and aarti.

The event was attended by local MPs Carlos Cheung and Helen White, as well as local and international guests. In their speeches, the guests thanked 'Sampriti' for such a colorful event. They especially appreciated the participation of children, adolescents and the younger generation. According to them, such events play an important role in familiarizing the new generation with their own traditions and culture, as well as strengthening mutual respect and harmony in a multicultural society.

There were colorful cultural programs on two evenings of the three-day event. Through songs, dances, poetry recitations and performances, the artists highlighted various aspects of Bengali art, literature and culture. The Freeman's Bay Community Hall was filled with cultural performances. The spontaneous presence and participation of the visitors created a joyful atmosphere in each phase of the festival.

In addition to organizing religious festivals abroad, this year's Durga festival of 'Sampriti' also reflects the determination to pass on the Bengali language, culture and heritage to the next generation. Through the theme 'Roots', the organizers have reminded us that even if we are far from the country, the pull of roots, cultural identity and mutual harmony are equally important in the lives of Bengalis.

This 'Sampriti' event, now in its second year, has not been limited to the formalities of Durga Puja; rather, it has become an important occasion to showcase Bengali heritage, camaraderie, and collective identity in Auckland's multicultural society.