The festival of Durga Puja is celebrated with fervour across West Bengal. During the festival, people visit pandals that are decked up lavishly and are based on unique and innovative themes. This year Durga Puja was celebrated from October 20 to 24. However, it seems the festival is not confined to the streets of Kolkata anymore and has gone global. A video posted on Instagram shows a Durga Puja procession passing on a boat on the River Thame in London. Even the iconic Tower Bridge opened up to let the procession pass through. An Instagram page called Calcutta Cacophony (@calcuttacacophony) shared the video on Friday. “What a unique sight isn’t it? Maa Durga on the Thames River, with the sound of Dhaak - celebration of Bijoya Dashami like no other,” the caption said. The caption further said in order to promote Kolkata Durga Puja as a global tourism destination; Heritage Bengal Global organised the Lalbaba Rice Thames Durga Parade last year. The procession goes underneath the bridges on Thames in central London area, to draw the attention of tourists on the banks and bridges, thereby creating curiosity and interest in the Durga Puja of Kolkata, it said. Watch the video below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Calcutta Cacophony ™ (@calcuttacacophony) “I see the United Kingdom INDIANISED without weapons and hatred! Indians are such winners!” a user commented. “This is a sight to witness,” said another. “Yes and I played dhak throughout what an experience it was,” wrote a third. Last month, an X user, Swati Moitra shared a picture of a notice put up by the Purbachal Shakti Sangha, a popular club that hosts a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata. The notice said, “No YouTuber allowed”. While sharing this image, Swati Moitra wrote, “Kolkata pujos have had it”.
