Bengali culture will take center stage in New York’s Times Square when the Mahalaya and Durga Puja Festival returns for its second annual edition on October 10 and 11. The two-day gathering will bring together families, artists and cultural organizations for a program combining religious ceremonies with traditional music, dance and community celebrations.
The festival is designed to showcase Bengali heritage in one of New York City’s most recognizable public spaces. Organizers have planned a range of activities, including Mahalaya Chandipath, Durga Puja rituals, Gita recitation by children and teenagers, Dhunuchi dance and musical performances. Artists from the United States, Bangladesh and West Bengal are scheduled to participate, giving the event an international cultural dimension.
The Mahalaya program will open at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, with Chandipath led by Satyam Roy Chowdhury. A special Gita recitation featuring children and teenagers raised in New York will follow as part of the festival’s focus on passing cultural and spiritual traditions to younger generations. The segment is being directed by Sutipa Chowdhury.
Saturday’s cultural lineup will also include a musical presentation by Sangeet Sadhana Academy, led by Malabika Chatterjee. Nrityanjali Academy will present a major dance showcase involving more than 60 performers under the direction of Chandra Banerjee. Artists associated with BAFA and Adda Academy will also take part in the opening-day program.
Music will remain a major attraction throughout the first day. Shah Mahbub, an artist associated with Bangladesh and New York, will perform, while West Bengal artist Meghla Das Gupta is scheduled to appear in a special concert.
Sunday, October 11, will shift the focus to Durga Puja ceremonies. Rituals will begin at 10 a.m., followed by Anjali at 3 p.m. The cultural program will feature a Dhunuchi dance presentation by performers from Nrityanjali. West Bengal artist Diyasini Roy is also scheduled to perform, while Jojo Mukherjee and his band will headline a special concert. Renowned artist Riddhi Bandyopadhyay will participate as a special guest.
Shashadhar Howlader, president of the organizing committee, said the Times Square celebration has developed into a gathering for Bengalis from different regions and backgrounds. The event, he said, offers an opportunity to celebrate shared heritage while welcoming people from the wider community.
Supported by Desi Natural Dahi and Willow Cricket, the festival aims to strengthen connections among Bengali communities in New York while introducing the traditions, music and cultural spirit of Durga Puja to audiences beyond the Bengali community.
