Members of the Bengali-speaking Hindu community in and around the GTA celebrated the annual five-day long Durgapuja last month with zeal and devotion to Goddess Durga, colourful traditional attire and mouth-watering food.

Goddess Durga is considered to be the destroyer of evils and the protector of mankind, and the festival epitomizes the victory of good over evil.

This year, Durgapuja at the Bangladesh Canada Hindu Mandir (BCHM) temple in East York began with the incarnation of Goddess Durga and ended with the immersion of Goddess Durga by reflecting in a mirror and water. The temple was decorated with flowers, vibrant lights and traditional crafts.

Durgapuja festival is also known as the Autumn festival and celebrated by many people irrespective of their faith, language and national origin.

There were colourful cultural programs for the large gatherings every evening, consisting of musical and dance performances, dramas, and poetical recitations by local and international guest artists.

Participants enjoyed the variety of cultural programs and the variety of Bengali vegetarian delicacies everyday.

Mrityunjoy Saha is a volunteer with BCHM Temple.