Prayagraj: In Prayagraj, Durga Puja has gone beyond community lines. Around 150 barwaris still follow traditional Bengali rituals, even though most of their organisers are non-Bengali. From worship and bhog to aarti, dhak and immersion, these committees have preserved the festival’s traditional spirit while making it a key part of Prayagraj’s culture.One of the oldest examples of such ‘non-Bengali’ Durga Puja is the Atarsuia Barwari, which is celebrating 142 years of Durga Puja this year. The committee was originally started by a small group of Bengali families, but over the decades many of those families moved to other parts of the city. However, the local non-Bengali families continued the tradition and have kept the rituals intact.“Although the Bengali families shifted to other localities, the non-Bengali families kept the tradition alive and continue to celebrate the festival in the same traditional manner,” said general secretary Atul Verma.The Neta Nagar Barwari in Kydganj is another prominent example, with the committee organising its 69th Durga Puja celebrations this year. The pandal at Neta Nagar Park in ward 62 is being designed on the theme of Disneyland. Artisans are working round the clock, with the decoration, design and lighting being prepared to recreate the Disneyland-like ambience, informs its president, Vicky Yadav.Likewise, all the members of Allahapur Barwari are from the non-Bengali community, yet the puja follows traditional Bengali customs. The committee brings a priest from Bardhaman district of West Bengal, along with dhak players and pandal artisans, to maintain the traditional character of the celebrations.The Durga Puja committee at Shervani Legacy, named Sheravali Welfare Society, is entering its third year of celebrations in 2026, adding to the growing number of neighbourhood committees keeping the festival alive across Prayagraj. “A strong community of around 500 households of various housing projects come together every year to celebrate the festivities, giving opportunity to kids and other residents to show their talent,” said KK Rao, senior lawyer of Allahabad High Court and president of the Durga Puja committee.The Sai Durga Puja Committee of Preetam Nagar is another example of the festival’s wider community appeal. The committee has been worshipping Goddess Durga for the past 17 years and has established itself as a regular part of the city’s Durga Puja celebrations.
