Durga parade along Thames, iconic Tower Bridge opens up to make way for passage of idol
Telegraph | 30 October 2024
A Durga idol was paraded on the Thames in London on a boat. The iconic Tower Bridge opened up to make way for the passage of the idol. Water collected from seven oceans and 13 rivers around the world was poured into the Thames at the bridge.
The Lalbaba Rice Thames Durga Parade, held on October 26, was many spectacles merged into one grand celebration.
Curated by Heritage Bengal Global, the parade aims "to promote Kolkata Durga Puja as a global tourism destination". This was the third edition of the parade.
The parade started from Putney West Pier side, with a double-decked boat carrying a 7ft Durga idol sailing on the Thames. A "Biojya dance" to the beats of dhak and Bhatiali songs on board contributed to the festive fervour.
More than 100 people were onboard. Besides Londoners, the contingent included members of the Indian diaspora, including Sujit Ghosh, Indian deputy high commissioner to London; and Soumitra Dutta, the dean of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
Members of the London Rowing Club sailed down the Thames on two boats alongside the idol. The 7ft sustainable idol was made by students of Techno India University, Calcutta.
As the procession reached the Tower Bridge, it opened up on either side to allow the boat to pass through.
"The mission to propel cultural vibrancy and heritage of Bengal and Durga Puja to the world stage inspired us to drive the Thames Durga Parade. Our ethos of universal brotherhood and the language of oneness ingrained in Bengal's progressive mindset helped us to be on the global platform," Partha Sarathi Nandy and Palash Nandy, directors of Lalbaba Rice, said in a joint statement.
Anirban Mukhopadhyay, director, Heritage Bengal Global, said: "We want to take to the world our Durga Puja and the festivities surrounding it. To that effect, we are trying to reach out to the British community, not just the diaspora, to be part of the parade."