USA Bureau

In addition to taking appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, the Autumn Durga Puja was celebrated accross the United States including New York, with demonstrations demanding the arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the communal attacks that had already taken place.

To consolidate the peace and religious harmony of the world-humanity, may the blessings of Durga Devi and Anandaloka's Mangalalo be kindled with a different feeling and a different love, it was the heart-soul of all expatriate Hindus. And in such a religious mood, the 5-day long puja-festival ended on Saturday, October 12 in the middle of Vijaya Dashami. There was a wonderful gathering of religious harmony everywhere around this festival.

Major major festivals are organized by Shri Krishna Bhaktasangha Temple at Hillside in Jamaica, Golden Year Party Hall organized by Bangladesh Vedanta Society, Divyadham Temple at Woodside organized by Sarvajan Puja Utsav Committee, Sanatan Sebasangha Temple at Queens Village, Puja Celebration Parishad at Gulshan Terrace, Public Puja Utsav at Mayamaya Temple, Brooklyn Gaur Nitai Temple, at Om Shakti Temple in Jackson Heights. Hundreds of places of worship were established in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland, California, Texas, Florida and Michigan.

All the classical rituals of worship are performed on Tithima. Among the various events were worship, aarti, music and dance performance of expatriate generation, performance of famous artists of Dhaka-Calcutta, religious program, cultural program performed by the members of the organizing organization, punthi reading, kirtan, sindoor game and distribution of Mahaprasad.

At the entrance of almost every pujamandap there were banners protesting and condemning the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh. Chairperson of this organization Dr. Prabhat Das complained with great anger that army, police, BNP-Jamaat people are being seen at Durgo Festival in Bangladesh in the name of security. But in this New York and America society, we are worshiping freely, there is no need for police administration here. From this I can understand that the security of the Hindu community of Bangladesh was not able to ensure during the anti-discrimination movement.

Similarly, while standing in front of Sanatan Seva Sangh Pujamandap in Queens Village, Ajit Bhowmik, the advisor of this organization, said, "We had hoped that Nobel laureate Dr. Communal harmony will be well established in Bangladesh under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus. But the opposite is happening.

Srikrishna Bhaktasangha director Rupkumar Bhowmik said that the people of Jamaat-Shibir in Chittagong went to the pujamandap and performed Islamic religious music and urged everyone to accept the Muslim religion. Is it complementary to religious harmony?

Sushil Saha, another director of Srikrishna Bhaktasangha, complained that we are seeking international intervention in the security of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Savita Das led the overall coordination of 5 days of rousing religious music in this puja festival of Sri Krishna Bhaktasangha. Under the direction and direction of engineer Ranjit Roy, the drama 'Jagat-Janani Durga' staged by the little Manis also evokes the mood of the festival. Secretary of the Board of Directors of Sri Krishna Bhaktasangha, Ardhendu Kumar Biswas, director Subhash Saha, Dr. Prominent including Pradeep Kar.

The President of Sanatan Seva Sangh has coordinated all the programs of the Puja-Utsav in Queen's Village. Nihar Sarkar, Secretary Dipankar Roy, Advisor Ajit Bhowmik and several others. Hundreds of children and their parents participated in it.

Expatriate Bengali Hindus of Atlantic City, New Jersey participated in various Durga festival celebrations. Atlantic City became colorful in the colors of Shardotsava. The Autumn Durgo Festival began on Tuesday, October 8 at the Diaspora Hindu Temple located at 109 North Florida Avenue in Atlantic City. Durgo Festival ends on Saturday, October 12. All the classical rituals of worship are performed on Durgotsava Tithima.

Under the overall supervision of Nivedita Bhattacharya, the cultural director of the organizing organization, everyone enjoyed the programs performed by the children and teenagers of the Shardotseva generation. Abalvarddhavanita's flamboyant attire and eye-catching costumes made the Durgotsava premises colorful with the colors of Sharadhotsava.

Expatriate Hindus from all walks of life converged in the temple premises. All the time they were enjoying the festival. During these few days of Durga Puja, the expatriate Hindus of Atlantic City were rejoicing. May the hearts and souls of all expatriate Hindus be excited with a different feeling and a different love in the Anandaloka Mangalaloka, this was the wish of everyone's heart.