NEWS / EVENTS
What We Do
Durga Puja Programme
Durga Puja, also called Durgotsava, is an annual Hindu festival in the Indian subcontinent that reveres the goddess Durga. It is particularly popular in West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, Bangladesh and the diaspora from this region, and also in Nepal where it is called Dashain. The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin, typically September or October of the Gregorian calendar, and is a multi-day festival that features elaborate temple and stage decorations (pandals), scripture recitation, performance arts, revelry, and processions. It is a major festival in the Shaktism tradition of Hinduism across India and Shakta Hindu diaspora.
Rest Of Our Festivals
Saraswati Puja
Saraswati Puja is the ritual worship of the goddess Saraswati. The festival is celebrated in the month of January-February in India. Saraswati is considered the goddess of knowledge and learning. Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom, art and music is the daughter of lord Shiva and goddess Durga.
Charity
Dorset Indian Association is the forefront of delivering value added services to the local communities, mainly in Bournemouth and Poole. We raise funds and donate to charities such as St Mungos to help rough sleepers in Bournemouth and Poole.
Bangla Nababarsho (Bengali New Year)
Pohela Boishakh (Bengali: পহেলা বৈশাখ) is the first day of the Bengali calendar which is also the official calendar of Bangladesh. This festival is celebrated on 14 April in Bangladesh and 15 April in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam (Barak Valley) by Bengalis regardless of religious faith. Celebration of Pohela Boishakh traces its roots back to Mughal rule in this region and also the proclamation of tax collection reforms of Akbar. The festival is celebrated with processions, fairs and family time. The traditional greeting for Bengalis in the new year is শুভ নববর্ষ "Shubho Noboborsho" which is literally "Happy New Year".
Bijoya Sammilani
The cultural event that will follow the grand autumn festival, Durga Puja. Various artists from different regions will present their performances. You will see everything from Classical Dance to Bollywood and listen to the Golden and new Hits from Indian Music.
Gettogether
Dorset Indian Association hosts family dinners and lunch outings to stay together and keep the bonding alive between all Indian and Non-Indian members of the community.
RABINDRA-NAZRUL JAYANTI
An evening is dedicated in remembrance of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam: two of the most prolific literary figures of Bengal. The evening is spent listening to the songs and poems written by these stalwarts . Local talents come forward to sing or recite the timeless classics that had been penned by these great personalities.