Durga Puja encapsulates the spirit and culture of Bengalees all over the world. Mother Durga makes her seasonal visit with her children to her devotees amid joy, thanksgiving and fellowship. Durga Puja is a time of renewal. Parents, children, friends, relatives, strangers, young and old are full of the spirit of fellowship and goodwill. Light transforms darkness, hope overcomes despair, good conquers evil, envy and hatred. Mother Durga and her children will be with us for five days. Let us be worthy of her divine presence.

Durga Puja festival is celebrated all over the world where there are Bengalees, with sincerity and great devotion. London is no exception but the rare thought worshipping a protima brought all the way from Kumartuli, Kolkata, was something daring indeed especially back in 1963. It was made possible by few pioneer dedicated Bengalees with the help of the late Shri Tusar Kanti Ghosh, doyen of Bengalee journalism who edited Jugantar and Amrita Bazar Patrika, both leading dailies of Kolkata at the time. The venue was the Mary Ward Hall, Tavistock Place London WC 1. That was our humble beginning, the rest is history.

Our Puja celebrations throughout the years has moved from hall to hall eventually finding a home in the Hampstead Town Hall for a few years before settling in the present place of worship, the prestigious Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, London WC 1, in the heart of London. All along we have been extremely fortunate to get the help and generous support of some renowned NRIs like Lord Swaraj Paul, Lord R. K. Bagri, Mr. S. N. Gourisaria and Mr. N, Sethia in addition to the support given to us by the festival- attending public and friends.

Our present protima is a work of art, especially sculpted by the legendary sculptor Shri Ramesh Chandra Paul of Kumartuli, Kolkata on commission by the world renowned industrialist Mr Lakshmi N. Mittal Chairman of LMN Group/Ispat International Ltd., for the London Durga Puja Dusserah Committee as a gift.