Celebrating Durga Puja in Seattle

Hello lovely readers, Shubho bijoya to all (as most of you will be reading this post-Dussehra). In this post, I will share my first experience celebrating a full-fledged Hindu festival in Seattle. I did celebrate Holi in March 2022. However, it was a homely affair with a few friends coming to our place for food and games. But we did end up playing with colors, which was totally fun. You can watch my short video on YouTube of our Holi celebration in Seattle. 

Also, here’s a video of my first Durga Puja celebration in Seattle at Oikatan ঐকতান – Bengali Community of Southern Seattle.

Durga Puja holds a special place in every Bengali’s heart. We wait for the festival to arrive since the beginning of fall and plan our annual leaves accordingly (because we just can’t work during these five days of festivity). The planning also includes food, clothes, and pandal hopping itinerary (you know what I mean? :P). And after two years, the celebrations are in full swing this year. Therefore, attending the Pujo was a must even in Seattle.

Durga Puja in Seattle

Seattle hosts three Durga Puja organized by three separate Bengali associations. Uttoron is one of the oldest in Seattle and attracts the most crowd. We attended their summer picnic this year, and it was fun. Moitri and Oikatan are two newly established organizations that hosted Durga Puja this year, one in Maple Valley and the other in Renton. We choose Oikatan to celebrate our first Durga Puja in the USA.

Unlike in India, most Pujos in Seattle are ticketed and allow limited entry. Therefore, if you’re planning to attend Durga Puja next year, I recommend following the Facebook page of the respective organizations to get updates about their latest events.

Now that you’re all set for your next Durga Puja, here’s a brief explanation of our day to give you an idea about the various events 

Event by: Oikatan ঐকতান – Bengali Community of Southern Seattle.
Time: 2 days (Oct 1 & 2)
Venue: Renton Technical College
Entry fee: $11 per person/ day

Reaching the venue in Renton from downtown Seattle 

We took King Country Metro Bus 101 from 4th and Union to Renton Transit Center and a cab to the Pujo venue as we couldn’t find a bus stop near Renton Technical College.

Total transit cost: $50

Celebrating Durga Puja at Oikatan

 

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It was a two-day celebration at Oikatan with a fun mix of cultural events and entertainment, from dance to music to Trivia. We attended the Pujo on both days. However, on the first day, we left right after Pushpanjali as there weren’t any restaurants nearby, and we were late for the food coupons. However, we came prepared the next day.

Our second day began with Pushpanjali, chanting prayers, and offering a flower to goddess Durga and her children. That was followed by consuming prasad containing fruits, nuts, Kaju Katli and MnMs. Abhishek and I spent the rest of our time meeting fellow Bengali folks and making new connections. 

We had Chicken Biryani for lunch, a classic Durga Puja dish. We ordered Biryani from Naan n Curry near Renton Transit Center. The chicken was tender, and the rice was delicious. I highly recommend trying this restaurant.

Post lunch, we sneaked out for a quick photo session, followed by a fun Trivia and a raffle that we didn’t win *sobbing silently*. Our day ended with Debi Boron, Shindoor Khela, and Shanti Jol. 

Overall it was a fun day and kind of emotional to find all these customs and rituals done so beautifully away from home. A big thanks to Oikatan ঐকতান – Bengali Community of Southern Seattle for making us feel at home and allowing us to celebrate this festivity. Don’t forget to follow their Facebook page for regular updates about their upcoming events. 

Ashche bochor abar hobe! 🙂