Amar Parar Pujo: How Pune’s Keshavnagar Bengali Association Brings a Little Piece of Bengal to the City

Keshavnagar, 13th October 2026: The rhythmic beats of the dhak, the fragrance of shiuli flowers, the excitement of wearing new clothes and the warmth of neighbours coming together — Durga Puja brings with it memories that many Bengalis carry wherever life takes them. In Keshavnagar, Pune, the Keshavnagar Bengali Association (KBA) is recreating that familiar feeling through its celebration, Amar Parar Pujo, turning a neighbourhood into a home away from home.

For the Bengali community, Durga Puja is much more than a religious festival. It is a celebration of identity, shared memories, family traditions and the joy of welcoming Goddess Durga. Through Amar Parar Pujo, KBA seeks to bring this spirit to Pune while opening its doors to people from different cultural backgrounds.

“Amar Parar Pujo is about recreating the feeling of celebrating Durga Puja in our own neighbourhood back home. We want people to experience the warmth of a community where everyone knows one another, comes together and contributes to the celebration. For us, the real beauty of Puja lies in this sense of belonging, rather than just the scale of the festivities,” said Krishanu Ghosh, president of the Keshavnagar Bengali Association.

Established in 2019 by a group of Bengali families living in Keshavnagar, the association began with a simple idea: to create a space where people could stay connected to their cultural roots while building friendships in their adopted city. Over the years, the initiative has grown into a community celebration that brings together families, children and senior citizens, along with visitors from diverse backgrounds.

More than a festival, a neighbourhood tradition
The idea of Parar Pujo is deeply rooted in Bengal’s neighbourhood culture, where Durga Puja is a collective effort. Residents participate in preparations, children grow up amid familiar rituals, elders share memories of celebrations from their hometowns, and neighbours become an extended family.

KBA seeks to recreate that atmosphere in Keshavnagar, where community participation remains central to the festivities.

“When families move away from Bengal, they carry their traditions and memories with them. Amar Parar Pujo gives them an opportunity to pass those traditions on to the next generation. At the same time, we want our neighbours from other communities to feel equally welcome. The idea is to celebrate together and make everyone feel that this Puja belongs to them too,” said Priyadarshi Banerjee, secretary of the association.

From traditional pushpanjali and sandhya aarti to the energetic dhunuchi naach and the rhythmic beats of the dhak, the celebrations bring together rituals and cultural practices associated with Durga Puja in Bengal. The much-awaited Ashtami bhog adds to the festive experience, while cultural performances, music and community gatherings provide opportunities for people to connect beyond religious and linguistic boundaries.

For children growing up away from Bengal, these celebrations also offer an opportunity to experience traditions that their parents and grandparents grew up with. For older members of the community, the festivities evoke memories of home, familiar neighbourhoods and years of celebrating the arrival of Maa Durga.

The people behind the Puja
While the rituals and cultural programmes form the visible part of the celebration, much of its character comes from the collective effort that goes into organising it.

Community members and volunteers contribute their time and energy to decorations, arrangements and hospitality while balancing their everyday professional and family responsibilities. Their involvement reflects the very idea behind Amar Parar Pujo — that a neighbourhood festival is built not only around a deity or a venue, but also around the people who make it possible.

The association’s celebrations also offer visitors an introduction to Bengal’s artistic and culinary traditions, creating opportunities for cultural exchange in a city shaped by people from different parts of the country.

A celebration of Pune’s cultural diversity
Pune has long been home to communities from across India, each bringing its own festivals, languages and traditions to the city.

Celebrations such as Amar Parar Pujo add to this cultural diversity by creating spaces where people can experience traditions beyond their own.

For KBA, preserving Bengali heritage and welcoming the wider community go hand in hand. The festival is an opportunity for Bengalis to reconnect with their roots and for others to experience the sights, sounds, flavours and emotions associated with Durga Puja.

The celebration is supported by main sponsors TVS Motors, VTP Realty, Kalpataru Ayugram and Ayaansh Fertility Clinic, along with co-sponsors Indriya Jewellery and Senco Gold. Motherhood Hospital is the health partner, while Kannu Ki Chai at Seasons Mall, Burger Mines, NAVIRA and Mint Icecream in Keshavnagar are food partners.

This festive season, Keshavnagar Bengali Association invites Pune residents to join the celebrations at Venkatesh Graffiti Commercial Complex on Keshavnagar Main Road.

At its heart, Amar Parar Pujo is a reminder that cultural roots can travel across cities and generations, finding new expression wherever people come together. For some, it is a way to reconnect with Bengal; for others, it is an opportunity to discover its traditions. For everyone who joins in, it is an invitation to be part of a community.

Because Durga Puja is not just about where you come from. It is also about finding a place where you belong.