Golden Jubilee of East Indian culture

by Krish Banerjee

We are a South Wales based charity promoting cultural exchange and integration through celebration of several Indian festivals and events while integrating with the local community. We also support local and international charities and aim to create a legacy for the next generation.

‘Wales Puja Committee’ (WPC) has been in existence for the past 50 years in South Wales. Each year we celebrate our festivals from India, particularly those from the East of India. We offer an open platform for any cultural groups in and outside of Cardiff to participate in our events and indeed multiple cultural groups do perform regularly in our festivals. We have raised funds for several UK based charities including the Alzheimer’s Society and Noah’s Arc Children’s Hospital. Thus, ‘giving’ forms a core part of our philosophy and belief. Our events also usually have the authentic cuisine from the East of India mostly prepared by our own members.Love is not something that you do. Love is something that you are.

Each year, we also produce our indigenous cultural acts based on our heritage of Indian culture by our own members. The performances could be theatre, musical drama, Indian classical dance etc. There is also an annual souvenirshowcasing the enormous talents - every year, published unfailingly at the celebration of the festival of Goddess ‘Durga’. In 2022, some of our senior members were recognised and felicitated at the prestigious United Kingdom Bengali Convention. Recently, four members were nominated in the Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Achievement Association awards and Ethnic Minority Women in Welsh Healthcare awards. Two of them eventually won.

So, this year, as we are celebrating our Golden Jubilee – it’s a feat which no other cultural group from India, based in Wales, has been able to achieve yet. Hence, this is a historic occasion not just for us but for Wales too and we are celebrating it with the utmost joy and pride. We have planned a few events throughout the year to commemorate the 50th year. In fact, the Mayor of Cardiff is expected to grace the main event of ‘Durga Puja’ (worship, festival & celebration of Goddess ‘Durga’ – the icon of women power and victory over evil forces) scheduled in October 2023. This year we’re also doing an idol restoration project of Goddess ‘Durga’ which is a very exciting and unique project in itself – over a period of 9 days. The project will involve a professional artist from India, our members and even children from local schools which would be a part of their education on global religion and culture.

Our historic 50th year will also witness another historic event – the worship and prayers during the festival of ‘Durga Puja’ will be conducted by a Priestess and this too, is unprecedented in Wales and probably in the country as well.

For more information visit: www.walespujacommittee.com

Homes is here for you!

Life