Prayagraj is home to nearly 1.5 lakh members of the Bengali community, whose presence and cultural influence date back almost two centuries.
Among them, the most enduring tradition is the celebration of Durga Puja, carried forward through a network of community associations known as barwaris.
Today, nearly 70 such barwaris organize the festival annually, bringing the flavor of Bengal alive in the heart of Uttar Pradesh.
The oldest and most revered barwari in Prayagraj is the Karnalganj Barwari, founded in 1853. Alongside it, the 165-year-old Muttiganj Kalibari remains a vibrant spiritual and cultural landmark.
Together, these spaces embody a legacy that connects generations of Bengalis to their ancestral traditions, even as the city around them has evolved from colonial Allahabad to modern Prayagraj.
A Daughter Returning to Her Mother’s Home
For Bengalis, Durga Puja is not merely a festival—it is an emotional homecoming. Dr. Radharani Ghosh, Head of Radiation Oncology at Kamla Nehru Regional Cancer Centre, who came to Allahabad from Kolkata forty years ago, describes it vividly:
For us, Maa Durga is like a daughter returning to her mother’s home. The entire community waits an entire year for this moment. From Panchami to Navami, we welcome her with devotion, rituals, dance, food, and above all, unity.”
Every year during Sharadiya Navratri, the Bengali community celebrates the five days of Mahalaya to Navami with deep reverence.
Ancient barwaris such as Colonelganj, City Barwari, Shahganj, Lukerganj, and George Town continue to preserve traditional practices like pran pratishtha (installation of idols), sandhi puja, dhunuchi nritya (ritual dance with incense pots), pushpanjali (floral offerings), bhog prasad, darpan visarjan (mirror immersion), and finally, the immersion of idols in the Ganga.
A Legacy Rooted in History
The story of Durga Puja in Prayagraj is intertwined with colonial history. According to Shankar Chatterjee, President of Colonelganj Barwari Durga Puja Society, it was the British East India Company officials who first brought the Bengali presence to Allahabad.
In 1853, twelve Bengalis were invited from Kolkata to work as clerks for the Company. They carried with them their customs and devotion, and under their initiative, the first organized Durga Puja—Karnalganj Barwari—was established.
What began as a modest community gathering grew into a cultural landmark, drawing wider participation as the Bengali population expanded across neighborhoods like Lukerganj, Shahganj, and City Barwari.
Today, these barwaris symbolize not just religion but also social cohesion, uniting Bengalis far from their ancestral homes.
Rituals That Define Faith
Durga Puja in Prayagraj follows every detail of the Bengali custom:
- Pushpanjali and Bhog: Each day begins with floral offerings and the distribution of sacred food (bhog) to devotees. On Navami, the community invites neighbors of all backgrounds to partake, turning the pavilions into spaces of joy and inclusivity.
- Dhunuchi Nritya: Beginning on Saptami and culminating on Navami, the incense-filled dance before the goddess draws massive crowds. For three nights, the rhythmic beats of the dhaak drum and the swirling flames of the dhunuchi pots electrify the atmosphere.
- Sandhi Puja – The Soul of Faith: Considered the most sacred moment, sandhi puja takes place during the final 24 minutes of Ashtami and the first 24 minutes of Navami—a total of 48 minutes where devotees believe Maa Durga manifests before them.
As Aditi Bhattacharya and Jaya Mukherjee of the Civil Lines Durga Puja Committee explain: During sandhi puja, we offer 108 lotus flowers and light 108 lamps. In those moments, it feels as if Maa herself is before us, radiating energy that fills our entire being.”
Tradition Meets Modernity
While the old barwaris remain steadfast in preserving every ritual detail, the newer generations—especially those who settled in Prayagraj after 1975—have added modern elements to the festival. Large-scale pandals now incorporate elaborate themes, dazzling lights, and cultural performances. Yet, amidst these innovations, the heart of the festival remains unchanged: devotion, community, and the feeling of maa-er aashirbad (the mother’s blessing).
A Festival That Unites
Durga Puja in Prayagraj is more than a religious gathering. It is a living testimony of migration, adaptation, and cultural continuity. Every pushpanjali, every beat of the dhaak, every immersion in the Ganga echoes a larger truth—that traditions carried across centuries and geographies still hold the power to unite, inspire, and preserve identity.
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