Birmingham’s Bengali community breaks barriers with annual Durga Puja

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In 2009, members of the Bengali Association of Greater Birmingham appealed to their president, Sati Nath to host Durga Puja in Alabama. 

Durga Puja is a Bengali celebration during the 9-day long Hindu festival of Navratri, which celebrates divine feminine energy in all forms. Across India, celebrations vary in scale, focus and tradition. 

In Bengal, Durga Puja is a highlight of the season. It is a prayer ceremony dedicated to the goddess, Durga, who is depicted as a warrior, riding a tiger, wielding weapons, and conquering Mahishasura, a deceptive and powerful demon. 

Durga Puja consists of a ritual prayer ceremony, traditionally led by a Hindu priest. When Nath and her late husband tried organizing the puja in 2009, they couldn’t find anyone who would perform the ceremony.

Eventually, they found a priest from Nashville who agreed to teach how to perform the puja, and Nath jumped at the chance. 

“I wanted to learn how to do it because whenever they do puja, the most important part for me always was, what are they saying? Not what are they doing, but what are they saying?” Nath said. 

Nath’s tenure as priestess drew pushback. That’s because traditionally, male brahmins, or men who are a part of India’s priest class according to its ancient caste system, are the only ones allowed to perform these kinds of prayer rituals. On top of that Nath is now a widow — an often stigmatized position in Indian culture. 

Nath stepped away and gave others a chance to lead the prayer. She returned a few years ago and has remained head priestess of the ceremony, and includes others who wish to participate, regardless of background. 

This year, Durga Puja was held at Irondale Middle School. Devotees were impressed by her knowledge and paid little mind to her caste or gender. 

“Bengal has already championed these kinds of causes, so it makes us proud to be part of this event and breaking the traditional barriers,” said Shubhasish Mukherjee.

Dhiraj Sharma appreciated Nath’s knowledge of and willingness to explain the Sanskrit texts and rituals.

“If you go and ask [her] the meaning of every word or sentence, she can explain [it to] you because she has gone, she has taken a deep dive into the inner meaning of everything,” he said.

Nath’s commitment to inclusion extends to the staff working the event as well. Madeline Lockhart is a custodian in the school district and has worked the event since 2021. 

“ I go up there and do all of that too. I partake in the food and I just enjoy it.,” she said. “ [I] really [enjoy] learning about their culture and the things they do. ‘Cause when I get back to work and I try to explain it to somebody, I know more every year about what’s going on than the first time I ever done it.”

A Baptist herself, Lockhart is able to find some resonance in the ceremony.  

“The first time I ever done it, I was just so fascinated with the little lady,” Lockhart said.

She has looked up the goddess on the internet to learn more about Durga. 

 “She fought and won the war against the devil which I like.”

Besides religious worship, Durga Puja is also a time for the Bengali community to come together. 

“ It’s our connection to the motherland,” Shreyashree Ghosh said. 

She’s dressed in a festive sari and wears a flower in her hair. She looks forward to Durga Puja all year. 

“When this year’s puja will finish, then we will wait for the next year.”

Vahini Shori is a Report for America corps member covering faith and culture for WBHM.

This reporting is supported by WBHM’s Local Journalism Innovation Fund. Find out more about the fund and how to donate here.